Sealants
What are Sealants?
Sealants are protective coatings that are applied to your back teeth. They can protect the teeth from cavities that would result in the need for either fillings or complete root canals. While they’re often applied to pediatric baby teeth, they can be just as beneficial for adults. If you’re susceptible to decay, already have a lot of fillings or have deep grooves and fissures on the back teeth, we may recommend dental sealants.
Why are Sealants needed?
Sealants can be requested at any time, and there may come a time during your treatment where we’ll recommend that they be placed. If you are prone to tooth decay, already have a lot of fillings or if you have deep fissures and grooves in the back teeth, sealants are a great way to keep your teeth protected. Likewise, they are helpful for pediatric patients who don’t always brush, floss and eat properly.
Who’s a candidate for Sealants?
Dr. Letran can help to determine if you would benefit from sealants with an exam. You can request sealants at virtually any time during treatment. We may recommend sealants for you or a child if we feel you’d benefit from them. They can last for anywhere from one to three years depending on the amount of wear they receive.
What happens during the Sealant procedure?
We will first clean and dry the back teeth. Dr. Letran then applies the liquid sealant to the back teeth by brushing it into the grooves and deep fissures. The sealant is then cured into place with a bright light. This will harden the sealant so that it can protect the tooth. Sealants help to protect against tooth decay as well as deep staining. The same application is repeated on all of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Keep in mind that sealants are not an excuse to not keep up with routine hygiene, and you should still make it a habit to care for your teeth at home.
If you’re interested in sealants for yourself or a child, call us today so that we can further assist in scheduling an appointment for you. We’ve been serving those in the Mountain View and El Monte areas for 15 years. We offer a range of dental specialties and can communicate with our bilingual patients.