Dental Sealants
At Clayburn Dental in Abbotsford, we provide dental sealants as a preventive measure for patients to help protect their teeth against cavities.
What is a dental sealant?
A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of molars, premolars and any deep grooves (called pits and fissures) of teeth. More than 75% of dental decay begins in these deep grooves. Teeth with these conditions are hard to clean and are very susceptible to decay. A sealant protects the tooth by sealing deep grooves and creating a smooth, easy to clean surface.
Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and chipping at regular dental visits.
Who can benefit from dental sealants?
Very young children: dental sealants are occasionally placed on baby teeth if they have deep grooves or depressions, or are cavity-prone.Children and teenagers: dental sealants are placed as soon as the six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear or any time throughout the cavity prone years of 6 to 16 years old.
Adults: dental sealants are placed when teeth have deep grooves or depressions.
Dental Sealants – The Process
Sealants are easily applied by your Abbotsford dentist or dental hygienist, and the process usually takes only a couple of minutes per tooth.
The teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned and then surrounded with cotton to keep the area dry. A special solution is applied to the enamel surface to help the sealant bond to the teeth. The teeth are then rinsed and dried. Sealant material is carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions. Depending on the type of sealant used, the material will either harden automatically or with a special curing light.