When it comes to protecting smiles from tooth decay, we encourage all of our dental patients to do their best to brush thoroughly, floss carefully, and of course, keep up with regular preventive dental checkups. When it comes to our kids’ smiles, it can be more of a struggle to keep them healthy. Dental professionals and parents work hard to teach children to remove plaque buildup and clean their smiles thoroughly every day, but even the most diligent parents may not always have time to double check their children’s teeth every time they brush. What can you do to improve your child’s oral health (or your own) quickly and comfortably? Ask your dental hygienist or dentist about dental sealants.
What are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin coats of resin material that protect the large back teeth, molars, that have deep pits and grooves in their surfaces. Applied in a liquid form, sealants seep into the pits and grooves in the surfaces of teeth, preventing bacteria, plaque, and tartar from accumulating in these hard to access areas. Once in place, the white sealants are barely visible.
How are Dental Sealants Applied?
Dental sealants are quick and easy to apply. The dental hygienist or dentist begins by drying the mouth around the tooth. Then, a thin layer of liquid sealant is applied and hardened into place over the tooth. The process is repeated until each tooth is covered, leaving patients with a protective coating that lasts for years with proper care.
How Long do Dental Sealants Last?
We recommend kids receive dental sealants on their six and twelve-year molars. Once in place, McCarl Dental Group guarantees the sealants for three years, and they could last much longer. We’ll examine and, if needed, repair your child’s sealants during their six-month dental exams.
Meet the McCarl Dental Group Team
The McCarl Dental Group team in Greenbelt and Millersville offer a wide range of preventive dentistry services customized to meet the unique needs of every patient we treat. Dental sealants are a great preventive option for many patients. Whether you want to help protect your child’s developing smile from decay or you need to diminish your own risk for tooth decay, sealants offer a simple solution. Call our office to schedule an appointment to find out more today. We look forward to helping you with all of your oral health and dental hygiene needs.