Dental sealant protects your teeth with a thin plastic material applied to the chewing or biting surface of back teeth (molars and premolars). This adds a protective layer over your teeth that prevents your teeth from decaying. You Parkcrest Dental Group dentist in Springfield, MO, will apply sealant with your approval in areas where your teeth have natural grooves and ridges. These grooves and ridges, which formed at no fault of yours, make it difficult for you to clean properly. Filling in these areas with sealant helps you keep your smile healthy.
Your Parkcrest Dental Group dentist might recommend using dental sealants as barriers to keep out unwanted food and bacteria. It’s only reasonable that we first explain what how we apply sealant and what you can expect. Sealants are easy to apply. They take very few steps before they are in place. First, your general dentistry technician cleans your teeth and prepares your tooth surface for the sealant. Your dental technician will then “paint” sealant onto each individual tooth. There, the sealant hardens and remains. We sometimes cure sealants with a special type of light to help ensure they remain fixed in place for a long period of time.
We apply sealants most often on children soon after their permanent teeth erupt from their gums. Sometimes we apply sealants to baby teeth and even adults. Your dentist will consult with you to determine if or when to apply sealants.
Sealants present few difficulties. Designed to hold up to regular, twice-a-day brushing and daily flossing, sealants stay firmly in place through daily activities. Your dentist will still want to regularly check up on your sealants. They do this to ensure you care for your sealants in the proper way. If you take good care of your teeth, sealants last a few years. While intact, they protect your teeth from bacteria and decay.
Dental insurance differs greatly. Depending on your provider or the company you work for, dental insurance can either cover many procedures or very few. Many dental insurance plans, however, cover sealants. We cannot tell you if your specific plan covers sealants, and you should ask your insurance provider before scheduling any procedures.
At the Parkcrest Dental Group, we put your oral health first. Sealants are a great way to protect your teeth from cavity and decay. Contact the Parkcrest Dental Group today to find out if sealants are right for you.
