By brushing and flossing, we strive to remove all plaque and food from our teeth to prevent cavities from occurring. Although excellent brushing and flossing are essential for a healthy smile, in most cases, it doesn’t permanently remove bacteria from the deep pits and fissures in our teeth. Our back molars, more than any other teeth in our mouth, are exposed to the most bacteria due to them being our “chewing teeth.” Especially with children, the cleaning of the back molars can be inadequate because it is hard to reach the area. We encourage dental sealants to help your child’s teeth fight off cavities in their chewing teeth and save you time and money on extensive restorative treatment. 

What are Sealants? 

As their name implies, a dental sealant seals off bacteria or decay from accessing the chewing surfaces of our teeth. Sealant material is a thin plastic coating applied to the pits and fissures as a liquid. Then the sealant is cured with a blue light to become solid. After it has hardened, the plastic will feel smooth and slippery. Sealants help food slip off the chewing surface instead of getting stuck. 

At What Age Should Your Child Get Sealants? 

According to the American Dental Association, the first molars erupt around six, and the second molars around twelve. Therefore, it is common for children to get them between the ages of six and fourteen. At Madison Ave Dental, we encourage our patients to have their children get sealants as soon as the molars erupt. 

Although it is most common to have children get sealants, it may also be recommended that adults take advantage of them. Age shouldn’t matter when trying to protect your teeth from decay!

Sealant Placement Process 

The most common time to receive dental sealants is after a routine dental cleaning. After your cleaning, we know that there is no existing decay in the tooth, and it is properly polished. 

Sealant placements are quick and easy to do! The first step is to completely dry your teeth. Drying the tooth will ensure that the sealant will stick. If the tooth gets wet, there is a possibility that it will fall off sooner than later. Then an etching gel is applied to allow for the material to adhere to the tooth. The gel is only used for a few seconds and then washed off. Finally, we place the sealant in each pit and fissure and then cure it with a blue light. 

The entire process is quick and painless! No numbing is required!!!!

What Happens if the Sealants Fall Off? 

Odds are if a sealant falls off, it will not be noticeable. In most cases, during a dental examination, we will notify you if a sealant has fallen off. We want you to know that having a sealant become loose and fall off is not worrisome. Sealants are completely replaceable, and we will place one on your next visit to our office. 

Give us a Call 

Preventing severe tooth decay using preventative measures such as deep, in-office cleanings and dental sealants will help keep your natural teeth healthy. Sealants are typically done on children, but Dr. Savabi recommends them at any age. Although we offer excellent restorative procedures, our primary goal is to help you maintain the health of your natural teeth. 

At Madison Ave Dental, our goal is to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. If you want yourself and your child to obtain dental sealants, please give our office, Madison Ave Dental in Greenwood, Indiana, a call.