No one wants to hear the words “You’ve got decay”. The unfortunate reality is that by age 17, dental decay affects 78% of America’s children.  Your child brushes their teeth twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste, you bring them in to see us twice a year for a professional cleaning, they eat a healthy, balanced diet…what else can you do to prevent decay? The answer is Sealants. Here’s how they work.

Your molars and premolars (the ones in the back of your mouth) have tiny grooves and pits on the biting surfaces. In a perfect world, when you brush your teeth, all the food particle and plaque would be removed from the biting surface. But often , even after brushing, decay causing food and plaque remain.

Sealants are plastic resin that is painted to the biting surface of your molars and premolars. The surface bonds to your teeth with the help of a special curing light, and the resulting barrier protects the biting surface of the tooth from decay. The procedure is easy, with no discomfort and takes only a few minutes for each tooth.

The result?  The Academy of General Dentistry cites sealants are 95% to 100% effective in preventing pit and groove cavities when paired with twice daily brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, a healthy diet and visiting  us, your dentist, twice a year.

While sealants are often recommended for children, adults can benefit from this cost effective treatment too.  Give us a call to see if you are a candidate for dental sealants.  To Seal or Not to Seal?  Definitely Seal!