How Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities


When it comes to cavities, what’s the first word that comes to mind? Fillings? If it’s not “fillings,” is it “Brush your teeth!”? There’s another word that should be top of mind or at the tip of your tongue when it comes to
preventing cavities — sealants. Dental sealants can protect your most vulnerable molars — those rear teeth with their deep grooves and fissures — from developing cavities by placing them behind a shield that protects them from bacteria and acids.

Who is a good candidate for dental sealants?

The ideal candidates for dental sealants in McKenzie Towne are children and teenagers who are particularly prone to tooth decay and the development of cavities. Ideally, kids should receive dental sealants as soon as their permanent teeth come in to protect their fissured teeth from ever developing cavities. Kids are not the only good candidate for dental sealants. Adults are, too!

Adults are also good candidates for receiving dental sealants on teeth that do not already contain cavities and that are not already affected by tooth decay. Adults who are at a heightened risk of developing cavities are strongly recommended to get dental sealants, including grownups in the following categories:


·        Adults with a history of cavities on other teeth or early warning signs of potential new   cavities

·         Adults with very thin tooth enamel

·         Adults with extremely deep grooves and/or pits in their molars

·         You have a diet that is high in carbohydrates and/or refined sugars

·         You have poor oral hygiene

·     If you wear braces that make complying with a thorough oral hygiene regimen more difficult

If you’re an adult but not certain if sealants are right for you, ask your dentist in McKenzie Towne to take a close look at your molars and to give you their recommendation.

On the other hand, people at a much lower risk of developing tooth decay and cavities because they have excellent oral hygiene habits, a balanced and healthy diet, and shallow grooves in their teeth that can be cleaned adequately with a toothbrush alone are not priority candidates for dental sealants. Having said that, sealants will provide an extra layer — quite literally — of defence quickly and at very low cost. There’s no downside to reducing your already low risk of developing cavities even further with dental sealants in McKenzie Towne.

How are sealants applied?

Dental sealants can be applied by a dentist in McKenzie Towne in mere minutes and completely painlessly. The first thing that your dentist will do is to carefully clean and dry the teeth to be sealed, before roughening the surface of the teeth using an acid solution. Roughening the surface of your teeth makes it easier for the liquid sealant layer to bond to the tooth as it dries and hardens. Your dentist will rinse and re-dry the etched teeth before painting the liquid sealant onto the teeth and exposing the teeth to ultraviolet light to dry, harden and cure the sealant layer.

As quickly as that — just minutes for each tooth being treated — your teeth most vulnerable to cavities are shielded from tooth decay and dental caries. For how long? Sealants don’t last forever because the sealant layer will gradually be worn away, but you can expect the protection to last for between five and 10 years. Your dentist will examine your teeth carefully at regular check-ups to see if the sealant needs to be touched up or replaced to keep your protection in place.

If you’re ready to quickly, painlessly and inexpensively protect your most vulnerable teeth — or those of your children — from cavities, contact a dentist near you and ask how soon you can schedule an appointment to receive dental sealants near you.


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