What Are Dental Sealants?
At Made Ya Smile Dental, we want every member of your family to enjoy a healthy, comfortable smile. Preventing cavities is an important part of helping your kids get the healthy start they need. Dental sealants are a procedure that our general dentists often recommend to minimize the risk of tooth decay on the back teeth. Although this protective coating for teeth is suggested for Sugar Land, TX children, teens, and adults may also benefit from this preventive solution. Sealants are a tooth-colored or white thin material that fills the grooves (pits and fissures) of premolar and molar teeth on the chewing surfaces where tooth decay often occurs. By keeping food, plaque, and bacteria from sticking to the teeth, sealants can reduce the chance of cavity formation and help protect your child's oral health from greater treatment needs. Sealants are an integral part of a preventive care plan and can serve your child's smile for several years with proper care. Give your family's smiles the protection needed to minimize the need for fillings and crowns in the future. To schedule a consultation for sealants, talk to our friendly Sugar Land, TX team today.
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What Are the Benefits of Dental Sealants?
At Made Ya Smile we suggest dental sealants for the teeth of Sugar Land, TX patients as a measure to help prevent dental cavities. These sealants offer a number of benefits for our patients, including:
- Prevention of debris and plaque damage
- Conserve time and money by protecting your natural smile
- Subtle, tooth-colored material
- The application process is quick and effective
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Sealants?
The childhood and teenage years are when the molar and premolar teeth are most at risk for developing tooth decay. Pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of these teeth naturally tend to collect bacteria, food, and plaque and can be difficult to clean with a toothbrush. This fosters an environment in which bacteria can thrive and create cavities in the teeth. The tooth enamel sealants offered in Sugar Land, TX, effectively block out debris by filling the grooves on the back teeth. Though any patient can be an ideal candidate for receiving sealants, our dentists often recommend them for kids ages 6 – 12. Sealants are a simple, comfortable procedure and are only recommended for teeth that are fully erupted, have no fillings or other types of restorations, and are cavity-free.
How Are Dental Sealants Placed?
During your child's dental cleaning or consultation visit, one of our dentists will examine the teeth for issues like tooth decay. If cavities or other concerns are detected, we may recommend a treatment solution other than dental sealants. We may be able to place your child's sealants at that time, or we can schedule you to come back on another day if it is more convenient. Before placing sealants, we will clean the chewing surfaces with a paste and special liquid that prepares the enamel to allow the sealants to strongly adhere. Our team will then rinse and dry the teeth and apply the sealant material. Sealants start out as a liquid, which flows easily into the grooves of the teeth. The sealants are individually set, or hardened, by our special light, a process which only takes 20 – 30 seconds per tooth. Once the sealants are placed, we will check your child's bite to ensure comfort and review instructions on how to care for the sealants over the next few days.
Caring for Dental Sealants
Most patients find the sealant process to be quick, easy, and pleasant. To give your child's sealants the best start, we do recommend following a few instructions for the first few days after they are placed. It is best to avoid eating sticky or hard foods, along with chewing gum, candy, or ice (which we always advise against) in the days following the placement of sealants. This can damage the sealants or cause them to dislodge from the teeth. The best way to care for sealants at home is to keep up with thorough brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Though sealants are great in the fight against cavities, it is still important to schedule twice-yearly cleanings and checkup visits with our team at Made Ya Smile Dental. At each visit, we will assess your child's sealants and let you know if they need to be redone or repaired in any way.
Are Sealants Covered by Dental Insurance?
Many insurance plans will cover dental sealants for patients up to a certain age. To learn more about your child's coverage for this type of decay prevention, we will contact your dental insurance provider and review your benefits schedule. Made Ya Smile Dental accepts several flexible payment options, including special patient financing plans. If you are not using insurance or have out-of-pocket costs, our team is happy to work with your family to find a solution that meets both your treatment needs and budget.
Dental Sealants FAQ
How long after getting dental sealants can you eat?
There are no restrictions after getting dental sealants. You can eat and drink right away.
How long do dental sealants last?
After getting dental sealants in Sugar Land, TX, they should last about 10 years or even more. It's important to maintain your daily brushing and flossing and continue your routine dental exams and cleanings. During these appointments, we'll look closely at your sealants to ensure they are still functioning properly
Can I brush my teeth afterward?
Once you get your dental sealants, you can brush and floss normally.
Protect Against Tooth Decay
Dental sealants are quick and easy to place and offer a great way to help protect your family's smiles from cavities. As a preventive measure, sealants from our experienced Sugar Land, TX team cover the chewing surfaces of molar and premolar teeth to help block out food, plaque, and bacteria. Seeking this simple solution now may minimize the need for fillings or other restorations in the future. Learn if sealants are ideal for your family by scheduling a visit with one of our dentists at Made Ya Smile Dental today.
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