Dental Sealants
Family Dentist serving Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ
This is where dental sealants are a viable option for your oral health. While they are not a substitute for brushing and flossing, they are a beneficial way to reduce the likelihood of forming cavities or experiencing tooth decay.
Not sure if dental sealants are the right option for you and your smile?
Keep reading to find out more about dental sealants, and give us a call today to find out!
How Dental Sealants Work?
Dental sealants are thin coatings that are usually placed over your back teeth, also known as your molars. They are there to stop leftover food and bacteria from settling onto your teeth, which can lead to cavities and tooth decay.
What is a cavity? A cavity is a permanently damaged area in a tooth that becomes a hole. Cavities can be caused from bacteria, sugary foods and drinks, and improper teeth cleaning and oral hygiene. If cavities are not treated, they can become much bigger, and possibly infected.
How a Dental Sealant Is Applied
Here is how a dental sealant is applied:
- Clean teeth: Before the acidic gel to create the dental sealant is applied to your tooth, your dentist will first clean and dry your tooth.
- Apply gel: After your tooth is clean and dry, your dentist will apply an acidic gel to it. This gel will roughen up the surface of your tooth, allowing a strong bond to form between the sealant and your tooth.
- Rinse off gel: After a few seconds have passed, your dentist will rinse off the gel with water, and will dry your tooth again.
- Apply sealant: Once your tooth is dry again, your dentist will place the sealant on to your tooth.Then your dentist will hold a special blue light on to your tooth to harden the sealant, which will keep it in place.
Tips for Caring for Dental Sealants
Taking care of your dental sealants is relatively easy, and goes along with the basic principles of maintaining good oral hygiene. This would include properly brushing and flossing your teeth, and attending consistent appointments with your dentist. Here are some additional tips for caring for your dental sealants:
- Toothbrush: It is important to properly brush your teeth when you have dental sealants on your teeth. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush, so that it is gentle on your teeth so it does not remove the sealants, but is still effective.
- Mouthwash: It is beneficial to use a mouthwash after brushing your teeth, especially an antiseptic one. This will help to rinse away any leftover food particles, and will kill off bacteria in your mouth and on your teeth.
- Fluoride: Using oral hygiene products that include fluoride is a great way to strengthen your teeth against acids, and to protect bacteria from lingering on your teeth.
- Limit sugar: Limiting your sugar intake is a wonderful way to protect your dental sealants, and to reduce your risk of developing cavities and tooth decay.
Dental Sealants FAQ at Princess Center Dentistry
How long do dental sealants last?
Dental sealants have been proven to last for many years if they are taken care of properly, usually up to about 9 years. The better your oral hygiene is, the longer your dental sealants will last. You should have your dental sealants checked by your dentist every time you go to your regular dental visits, to ensure that they are still on correctly.
Which teeth should have dental sealants on them?
The teeth that are most at risk for cavities and tooth decay are the molars in the back of your teeth. They usually have the biggest pockets for leftover food or bacteria to stick in, so they can potentially cause you the most problems. It is most common to put dental sealants on your six-year and twelve-year molars, but they can go onto any tooth that is causing you issues.
Insurance
- Do you accept dental insurance?
Yes, we do accept dental insurance at Princess Center Dentistry. For information on if we work with the dental insurance provider that you have or any other insurance questions, check out our page on insurance coverage.
- Will my dental insurance cover the dental sealant treatment that I need?
This is a great question! Whether or not your dental insurance will cover dental sealants is dependent on what your specific plan covers and what overall treatments you are wanting to have done.
At Princess Center Dentistry, we understand that knowing what will and what will not be covered by insurance for dental treatments is important to our patients. This is why after a consultation, we send a pre-treatment estimate to insurance providers, to verify with your dental insurance what they will and will not cover.
What are Our Hours?
At Princess Center Dentistry, our hours are set with both flexibility and the needs of patients. Need an appointment before work? Or on the weekend? We have you covered. Check out our hours in Scottsdale, Arizona:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed