Dental Sealants
Deep grooves and fissures on the molars or back teeth have the potential to cause serious decay. Your dentist may recommend dental sealants if an oral exam reveals these grooves to be present. A dental sealant is a thin coating, often made of plastic, which is painted onto the chewing surfaces of teeth. According to the American Dental Association, dental sealants can reduce the chances of developing a surface cavity by up to 90 percent. There are also no known negative side effects to having dental sealants.
At John T. Green DDS Inc., we offer a wide range of services, from cosmetic to restorative dentistry. From Dayton to across the country and internationally, we welcome all patients to experience outstanding customer service and tailored treatment plans. If you are scheduled for a dental sealant procedure, or if you would like to ask our staff any questions about this procedure or schedule an appointment, please contact us today.
Dental Sealant Process
In most cases, dentists can complete a dental sealant in just one visit. First, your dentist will fully clean the affected tooth with a rotating brush or a paste. This is necessary to ensure the tooth and area surrounding the tooth is clean and there is not any lingering food debris.
After the tooth is cleaned, your dentist will rinse and completely dry the tooth and apply an acidic solution. This solution helps the sealant adhere to the tooth. Once the solution has dried, the liquid sealant will be painted across the tooth. For about 30 seconds, an activating light will be applied to help harden the sealant. Once this process is complete, your tooth will look and feel normal, and you will be able to chew without pain.
Benefits of Dental Sealants
Dental sealants can provide a wide range of benefits including the following:
- Reduce potential future cavities, which can be costly to fill
- Prevent plaque and bacteria from forming and preserve the natural groove and feel of your teeth
- Procedure is quick and painless
The success rate of dental sealants is high; however, patients should be aware that sealants are not a replacement for correcting a pre-existing issue. It is also possible, though unlikely, that an undiagnosed cavity could be covered by the dental sealant. If this happens, the sealant will stop the cavity from spreading. Sealants are not a permanent solution and most last, on average, about 10 years, but that really depends on your eating and oral habits. Patients should continue to have regular check-ups so your dentist can confirm your sealant is still in place.
Your Mouth after Dental Sealants
Following your dental sealant procedure, it will not be necessary to make any significant changes to your overall dental maintenance or make any dramatic changes to your diet, although you should avoid chewing hard or sticky foods immediately following the procedure to give the sealants time to properly heal.
In order to maintain the longevity of your dental sealants and help assure you will not need additional oral health maintenance in the near future, it is important to practice good oral hygiene habits. By following these best practices, you will be taking an important step to ensuring that you maintain a strong and healthy smile.
- Brush and floss at least twice daily. When you do brush your teeth, be sure to do so for at least two minutes. Many people do not spend enough time brushing, or attending to cleaning other areas of the mouth, such as the tongue. If you happen to have an aversion to flossing, talk to your dentist about flossing alternatives, such as interdental brushes or flossing picks.
- Be mindful of your diet. To maintain healthy teeth and gums, avoid eating foods high in start or drinking sugary liquids. If you do consume sugar liquids, use a straw to limit the amount of sugar that is exposed to your teeth. It is also best practice to drink water after every meal and swish water to remove deposits of food.
- Schedule visits every six months or more for those with periodontal issues. Besides practicing good oral hygiene habits and being mindful of your diet, the best thing you can do to preserve and improve your oral health is to visit your dentist or periodontist every six months. Doing so allows your dentist to perform a deep cleaning with specialty tools, monitor the status of any procedures you have had performed, and perhaps most importantly, address potential issues before they develop.
Cost of Dental Sealants
The final cost of your procedure will be determined by a variety of factors, such as the severity of your case and what type of dental plan you are currently enrolled in. Our office does accept cash, most major credit cards, money orders, and personal checks.
If you have concerns about the extent of care required and would like to discuss alternate financial arrangements, please feel free to contact our office to discuss CareCredit. CareCredit helps patients pay for procedures and treatments that are not covered by insurance by offering low minimum monthly payments and No Interest* financing so you can get what you want, when you want it. Applying for Care Credit only takes three simple steps and can provide instant approval.
If you have any additional questions regarding payments, dental insurance coverage, or available financial options, please contact our office and we will be happy to help.
For Beautiful, Healthy Smiles, Contact Us Today!
At John T. Green DDS Inc., we believe a healthy smile is a beautiful smile, which is why we provide an array of dental treatments to cater to health as well as aesthetics. Our practice utilizes world-class labs that create customized restorations to restore the structure and beauty of your teeth. We take the time to explain and educate our patients about the importance of health care and answer any questions you may have about treatment so you can make the best decision for your smile.
With his attention-to-detail for providing high aesthetic results to restoring the health of patients’ teeth and gums, at John T. Green DDS Inc you are in experienced hands. Take your first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile today and schedule an appointment by contacting our office by phone at 937.293.3402 or fill out our online form.