Plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. That’s why our dentists may recommend dental sealants to protect your back teeth. A dental sealant is a plastic coating we paint onto the biting surfaces of your molars. This coating seals up any grooves or divots where plaque can hide.
Candidates for Dental Sealants
Patients of all ages can get dental sealants. Although, we recommend checking your dental insurance policy before your next appointment.
Often, insurance companies will cover the cost of dental sealants for children up to a certain age. Checking your insurance beforehand will eliminate any billing surprises after your appointment.
Benefits of Dental Sealants
Did you know that affecting American children?
Children are more likely to neglect teeth that are harder to reach, like their molars. They may also not brush their teeth for a full 2 minutes as recommended by our dentists. These factors increase your child’s risk of cavities.
The good news is that our dentist can apply sealants to their back teeth. But dental sealants aren’t a replacement for good oral hygiene. Your child will still need to brush their teeth twice a day and floss once daily to .
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Once your teeth are cleaned and dried, one of our dentists will roughen the chewing surface of your tooth with an acid solution. This is so the plastic sealant can make a secure bond with your tooth’s crown. They’ll then rinse and dry your teeth.
Next, the dentist will paint the sealant on the chewing surface of your tooth. As a final step, our dentist may use a special curing light to harden the plastic coating onto the tooth.
Dental sealants can last up to 10 years as long as you practice good oral hygiene. One of our Grand Rapids dentists will check the condition of your sealants when you come in for your next appointment.
Request an Appointment with Advance Dental
Want to learn more about preventive dentistry? Dr. Richard Neuman and Dr. Alexis Neuman would be more than happy to help you maintain a healthy smile. One way they can do this is by applying dental sealants to your back teeth. To request an appointment with one of our , call Advance Dental at (616) 956-9183.
