Keeping up with excellent oral cleanliness involves something other than turning the toothbrush out to be, in any event mostly. A dentist in Rockingham, NC advises additional preventive measures to protect your teeth from decay. Dental sealants are a preventive treatment, that is among many other measures. What is a tooth sealant and how does it protect teeth?

What Are Dental Sealants?

A thin, protective layer called a dental sealant is placed on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, mainly the molars and premolars. These teeth are more prone to cavities because of their pits and grooves, which may collect germs and food particles. It might be difficult to completely clean these grooves, even with careful brushing and flossing. By acting as a barrier, sealants stop food particles and plaque from getting trapped in these cracks.

How Dental Sealants Are Placed

Placing dental sealants is a simple, fast, and painless treatment process. Find out what to expect when you visit your dentist in Rockingham:

1. Tooth Cleaning: The initial step of the process is cleaning food particles from teeth that require sealant to be added. Nothing retains as good hygiene as sealant does (bacteria and food cannot hide under it).

2. Tooth Preparation: Once the teeth are cleaned, your dentist will paint a solution onto them to prime each tooth. This helps give the sealant a better surface to stick to because it will slightly tire up the edges.

3. Applying The Sealant: Liquid Is then painted on the prepared teeth by a dentist. Any sealant is either brushed onto the surface of the tooth or squeezed into grooves.

4. Light Curing: A specialized curing light is used to harden the sealant. The sealant then hardens into a tough enamel coating that protects the tooth.

5. Last check: The dentist makes sure that the sealant has adhered to teeth properly and adjusts any bite.

The Advantages of Dental Sealants for Protection

There are many reasons why dental sealants are great for protecting teeth, especially in children and teenagers:

1. Prevent cavities: The main goal of a sealant is to prevent the formation of cavities. Sealants work by filling in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of molars and blocking food from causing harm to teeth.

2. Economy: Sealants are a better option for prevention. Since fluoride helps prevent cavities, it can save you a lot of money in the long run by avoiding more costly dental treatments like fillings, crowns, or root canals.

3. Long-term Protection: Sealants will not last forever, but they can endure up to several years if you look after them. When you have regular dental check-ups in Rockingham, your dentist can then assess the condition of sealants and reapply them if needed.

4. Safe procedure: Distributing dental sealants is safe and non-invasive where no drilling or anesthesia is needed. It is a safe choice for patients since it can be used on all ages, this means that children who may experience more caries would benefit largely.

5. Assist Oral Hygiene: The application of sealants allows for a maintained hygiene routine. They shield your teeth by guarding them from difficult-to-reach spaces that might not be cleanable if you brush and floss less judiciously.

Dental sealants are a fast and easy solution to preventing dental caries in your teeth. This preventative service is offered in Rockingham, NC, and should be a part of your oral health regimen. Ideal for children, teenagers, and adults alike, sealants are a durable way to maintain great dental health. Learn more about getting dental sealants by reaching out to a local dentist in your area who can explain how this preventive measure might benefit you or someone in your family.