Dental Sealants – Schaumburg, IL
Extra Protection Against Tooth Decay
Dental sealants are an effective preventive dental procedure used to protect teeth from cavities and decay. They are essentially plastic coatings that are painted on the chewing surface of the teeth to protect them from decay. While dental sealants are most often recommended for children—usually applied to the baby molars—adults can benefit from dental sealants too. This is especially true if they suffer from pits or fissures, as they create hard-to-brush areas in between teeth. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of dental sealants from our Schaumburg, IL dentist.
The Dental Sealant Procedure
The application of dental sealants is quick and completely noninvasive—they can be applied in just one visit. Dr. Dabah will start by performing an initial cleaning and evaluation. He will then apply the plastic coatings one tooth at a time. The sealants flow into the grooves of the teeth and either harden on their own or are assisted with a special light source.
Once the sealants have hardened, the teeth are completely protected from bacteria. The sealants also act as barriers to protect the enamel from outside factors such as plaque or acids. Sealants can last for several years before reapplication is considered. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface is protected from decay. Sealants have proven to be very durable.