A friend told me to get sealants to prevent cavities. What are they?
Sealants are made of acrylic-like materials and protect your tooth’s vulnerable areas by “sealing out” plaque and food. The sealants used at by the Dental Professionals form a protective barrier by bonding to the surface of your teeth, covering any pits and fissures that may be hiding plaque and food from your toothbrush.
The process of applying sealants:
- Since most dental decay starts in the pit and fissure areas of the back teeth, sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars.
- The teeth that will be sealed are thoroughly cleaned, and it only takes a few minutes to seal each tooth.
- The chewing surfaces are “roughened” with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth.
- The sealant is then ‘painted’ onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.
Sealants usually last several years before a reapplication is needed and hold up well during normal chewing.
If you’re interested in other means of preventing tooth decay and beautifying your smile download our free eBook “10 Advanced Chicago Dental Services to Keep Your Smile Beautiful and Healthy” which is available at www.DentalProfessionals.com/ebooks/.
