Sealants | Dentist in Waterford MI

What is dental sealant?

A sealant is a plastic material used to fill in the narrow groves of a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned by brushing, and is typically applied to the chewing surfaces on your back teeth, specifically premolars and molars. The plastic resin attaches into the craters and creases of the back teeth so the sealant can serve as a blockade to plaque and acids.

Why do I need a sealant?

The need for sealants on your back teeth is not always indicative of bad brushing habits. The premolars and molars are often too narrow, so narrow that not even one bristle will fit into them. Even with meticulous and habitual brushing and flossing, food particles will still get into these pits and fissures, causing decay and cavities, which is a much more complicated issue than simply getting sealants to protect your teeth.

The Sealant Process

In order to save your teeth from possible decay, a dentist at Stannard & Studt & Wolf Dentistry will brush on a coating of sealant into the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and bacteria and keep your teeth healthy. This simple procedure only takes a few minutes per tooth. The molars and premolars are “roughened” with an acid solution to ensure the sealant stays on the tooth. Once the sealant is brushed onto the tooth, it will harden, sometimes with the help of a special curing light.

Long-Term Protection

Sealants should provide long-term protection of your teeth against decay, as long as the sealant remains undamaged. Sealants are designed to withstand the pressure of normal chewing and should last for several years before a reapplication is required. However, just to make sure everything is in place, your dentist will check the sealants during every dental care visit.
Don’t let your back teeth fall prey to destructive bacteria and acid; call Stannard & Studt & Wolf Dentistry for optimal sealant protection!