Dental Sealants – Lacey, WA
Effective Protection Against Cavities
At Peterson & Cammack Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, preventive dental care goes far beyond regular checkups and cleanings. Apart from the process of removing harmful plaque and tartar from around the gum line and examining one’s oral cavity for problem areas or abnormalities, a family dentist can offer additional preventive solutions designed to improve oral health. With dental sealants in our Lacey, WA dental office, patients can better protect back teeth from plaque and other food particles entering the tiniest crevices and causing tooth decay. To find out how your child can have sealants applied during their next visit, call us today!
Why Choose Peterson & Cammack Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for Dental Sealants?
- Great for Children & Adults
- We Accept Dental Insurance
- Family-Friendly Dental Office
What are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are just one of the many preventive measures your dentist can use to protect your little one’s smile. These thin, plastic coatings are painted onto the back teeth to create a protective barrier against any debris or bacteria from penetrating the tooth enamel and causing cavities or tooth decay.
How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?
The timespan for your child’s dental sealants is dependent upon how well they take care of their smile. In most cases, sealants can last for several years. As long as your child maintains good oral health, avoids using their teeth as tools to open packages or containers, and limits the types of hard, crunchy foods eaten, it is possible for these back teeth to remain protected for much longer.
Fortunately, during regular visits to the dentist, we can check these sealants to ensure they are still in place and do not require reapplication. However, if they do, this can be completed during a regular visit.
Which Teeth Should be Sealed?
At our dental office, you will find that our team places dental sealants only on the premolars and primary molars, which are the teeth located toward the back of the smile. These contain many small crevices that easily trap food particles, bacteria, and other harmful debris. Because of the pits and grooves that exist on the surface, dental sealants make it possible to protect these areas, allowing the teeth to remain free of cavities and decay while eating and/or drinking.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are beneficial for people of all ages; however, young children often see the most positive impact because their teeth are much more prone to cavities. If their eating and oral hygiene habits are not up to par, dental sealants are often recommended to avoid additional tooth decay from developing. Also, if your child already has a few fillings, sealants will be a welcome treatment to prevent more fillings in the future.
No matter if your child receives dental sealants or not, it is important that your little one continue to practice good oral habits at home. If you need help to identify ways in which your little one can improve their dental hygiene, let us know!
The Process of Getting Dental Sealants
The process for receiving dental sealants is quick, easy, and completely painless. Taking only one visit, we will begin by first cleaning the tooth to remove any bacteria from the grooves and pits. Next, your dentist in Lacey will apply a solution to the surface of the tooth before rinsing and drying off the tooth. Once the sealant is painted onto the top of the tooth, a curing light will be used to harden the sealant into place.