What Is Sealant And What Is It Used For?

Posted on 11/1/2023 by Fariba Mutschler

African American girl smiling after getting sealants on her teeth at Great Grins for KIDS - Portland in Portland, OR

You may have teeth that are more prone to cavities than others. You may also have passed down your cavity-prone teeth to your children. If you have a lot of cavities, they are more likely to have a lot of cavities as well. There is a solution for you and your children's cavity-prone teeth, and that is a sealant. Here is some information on how dentists use sealants to prevent cavities.

What Is Sealant?

Sealants are used in dental practices to coat and protect teeth from the acids in bacteria that cause cavities. Sealants are clear coatings that repel bacteria. These cavity-causing bacteria are in your mouth all of the time, but practicing good dental hygiene keeps them at bay.

However, for some people, the shape of their teeth prevents good dental hygiene from having as much effect as it normally would. Your back molars may have deep pits or grooves that prevent you from cleaning your teeth deeply. Molars are susceptible to cavities because of their location as well. Many dentists apply a sealant to back molars.

Should My Child Get Sealants?

Many dentists don't apply sealants to children's baby teeth because they are going to fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth. However, if your child's molars are particularly deep or grooved, the dentist may recommend sealants. Once your child gets their permanent molars, the dentist may want to apply a sealant to protect them and prevent cavities from occurring. Once the sealant is applied to a tooth, the dentist will use a special light to harden it.

If you aren't sure whether your child needs sealants on their teeth, it is a good idea to consult with a dentist. The dentist can take a look at your child's teeth and determine whether sealants are necessary.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161 - (971) 470-0054 - portlandchildrensdentist.com - 9/8/2024 - Page Phrases: pediatric dentist Portland -