Dental Sealants In Preston, Melbourne | Supreme Dental Preston

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth – usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars) – to prevent cavities. The sealant quickly fastens into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective layer over the enamel of the tooth.

Although brushing and flossing thoroughly can remove food particles and plaque from the smooth surfaces of teeth, they can’t always get into the pits and grooves of the back teeth to remove the food particles and plaque.

Dental sealants protect these areas from tooth decay by sealing out plaque and food.

Who Should Get Dental Sealants?

Because of the chance of developing decay in the depressions and fissures of the premolars and molars, children and young adults are potential candidates for dental sealants.

However, adults without tooth decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from dental sealants.

Typically, children should get dental sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in, so the teeth are protected through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.

In some cases, dental sealants may be appropriate for temporary teeth, such as when a child’s baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves.

Because temporary teeth hold the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is important to keep them healthy so they don’t fall out too early.

Dental Sealant Procedure

Applying dental sealants is a simple and painless process. It only takes a few minutes for your Preston dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth.

The application steps are as follows:

First, the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned.
Each tooth is dried, and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry.
An acidic solution is applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant stick to the teeth.
The teeth are then rinsed and dried.
A sealant is then painted on the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. A special curing light is used to set the sealant.

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants can shield your teeth from decay for up to a decade, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at your regular dental check-ups.

Your Preston dentist can replace sealants as necessary.