Dental sealants are used as a preventive measure to help fill in narrow grooves in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing. In many individuals, the tooth’s structure may contain several fine grooves or pits, which can accumulate plaque.
This is usually not caused by brushing improperly or infrequently, but simply because these fine grooves or pits may be too narrow to allow even one bristle inside for cleaning.
Unfortunately, if not taken care of properly, these tiny grooves will develop into cavities over time. To prevent this, our Grand Rapids dentist at Precision Family Dental may brush a coating onto the tooth or teeth to seal the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy and free from decay.
How Dental Sealants Work
Like the name suggests, dental sealants seal the chewing surfaces of your molars so plaque and food particles can’t build up inside crevices to decay teeth. Since molars are used to grind up the food we eat, it only makes sense that these teeth would be vulnerable to cavities.
The dental sealants procedure takes one trip to our office!
However, patients who have grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of their molars have an even higher risk for cavities, which is why our Grand Rapids family dentist may recommend dental sealants.
Dental Sealant Procedure
The dental sealants procedure takes one trip to our office. First, our dentist will use an acid solution to roughen the chewing surfaces of your molars. That way, the sealant will be able to create a strong connection to your teeth. Next, the dentist will paint the sealant directly onto your teeth where it will bond and harden. If you maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine, you can expect your tooth sealants to last up to 10 years.
To learn more about our dental sealant treatments or to request an appointment with our Grand Rapids dental sealant dentist Adam Piotrowski DDS, please contact us here or call our office directly at (616) 949-1570. At Precision Family Dental, we are dedicated to helping you achieve good oral health by offering preventative dentistry services.