Some people have trouble keeping their back molars clean. Those teeth often have grooved surfaces, which collect food particles and bacteria. At Miller Family Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee, we recommend protecting your back teeth with dental sealants. Keep reading to learn more about dental sealants, how they work, and what benefits they provide.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are a preventative dental treatment applied over the top surfaces of your back teeth. We use a composite resin material like the white fillings we use to fill cavities. The main difference is the sealant is thinner, so it flows much easier into the grooves in the teeth. Because the coating is so light, it is not noticeable once it is in place.
The purpose of a dental sealant is to shield the surfaces of your teeth from harmful foods, drinks, and bacteria that could cause tooth decay.
Who Needs Dental Sealants?
We recommend sealants for cavity prevention to any child with grooved permanent teeth. We believe applying sealants is important as soon as those big back teeth come in. Children don't always have the best oral hygiene habits, meaning they will likely get cavities. Molar sealants give your child extra protection where it's needed most.
Older children and adults can also benefit from dental sealants. Some teeth have deep grooves, making them especially good at trapping food. We may recommend dental sealants to fill the grooves, regardless of age.
How Are Dental Sealants Applied?
The sealant process is easy and pain-free. We clean and dry your teeth and apply the composite resin material. The white composite material fills up the grooves and pits in the chewing part of your teeth. We dry it, allowing the sealants to bond to your teeth for durable protection that you won't even notice. This only takes a few minutes, and we can do it following a regular dental checkup.
How Do Teeth Sealants Benefit You?
Getting teeth sealants is like applying a shield to your enamel. They protect your teeth against tooth decay because they do not allow any food particles, acidic drinks, or bacteria to touch the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
To sum up, the benefits, when you get dental sealants, you will have:
- Safe, painless dental protection against decay
- Improved oral hygiene
- Fewer chances of needing costly restorations
We feel strongly about the importance of preventative dentistry at Miller Family Dentistry. It's always better to prevent bad things from happening to your teeth than to fix the problems once they have begun. Dental sealants are one effective way to take better care of your teeth.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
Your back teeth do a lot of chewing, so it's good to know that the dental sealants are built to last for years. Sealants can last up to ten years. Your dentist will keep an eye on them when you come in for routine dental checkups. Depending on your dental health, we may recommend replacing them. In many cases, the sealants are applied to children, and by the time the sealants wear out, the patient has developed better oral hygiene habits and doesn't need the extra protection anymore.
How Do You Take Care of Your Dental Sealants?
Sealants are easy to take care of. Brush and floss as you usually do, and continue going to the dentist regularly.
How Much Do Dental Sealants Cost?
You may call our office for specific pricing questions. If you have dental insurance, check your plan to see if all or some of the cost of dental sealants is covered.
Why Should You Come to Miller Family Dentistry for Dental Sealants?
Sealants are often applied to children's teeth as soon as the permanent teeth come in, and our dedicated staff does a great job working with children. Miller Family Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee, is a family dental practice with all the advanced equipment and technology to safely and effectively treat your dental issues. Schedule your next appointment today.