We may recommend dental sealants if you have deep pits or fissures on the chewing surfaces of your molars (back teeth) that collect plaque. While we often recommend dental sealants for children, adults can also benefit from getting dental sealants. A sealant covers the entire chewing surface of your tooth, sealing it from food particles, plaque, and tartar. Our dentists in Holland, MI, will be able to determine if this procedure is right for you.
Dental Sealants for Children
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States, according to the . As a result, we often recommend dental sealants as soon as your child gets their premolars and permanent adult teeth. Sealants can help protect your child’s teeth when they’re most vulnerable to cavities, between the ages of 6 and 14.
Related: Are Dental Sealants Worth It?
What to Expect
Applying sealants is fast, easy, and painless. During the sealant procedure, we roughen the chewing surfaces of your molars before painting on the sealant. Doing this allows the sealant to bond strongly to the surface of your teeth so it’ll last for years to come.
During the sealants procedure, we:
- Clean and dry teeth.
- Apply acidic gel to roughen chewing surfaces of molars.
- Rinse away the acidic gel.
- Dry teeth.
- Paint liquid sealant solution over grooves in molars.
- Harden sealants with a special curing light.
It’s important to understand that sealants are not meant to replace good oral hygiene habits. You’ll need to continue brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once daily to remove plaque at home. You’ll also need to see our dentists at least every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and oral examination.
Request an Appointment With Us
Our dentists offer sealants and other preventive dental services to help you maintain good oral health. To request an appointment with our dentists in Holland, MI, call the Lakeshore Dentistry & Implant Center at (616) 399-3946.
