Your molars and premolars are the back teeth in your smile responsible for chewing up your food so that it can be easily swallowed and digested. However, if you noticed that these teeth have deep pits and grooves on their chewing surfaces, these help your teeth chew food but can also increase your risk of tooth decay by harboring bacteria. You can take steps to prevent tooth decay in the back teeth, such as receiving dental sealants.
Dental sealants are thin coatings of clear or tooth-colored plastic that provide an extra layer of protection to the chewing surfaces so that they can’t be invaded by bacteria and tooth decay.
The first step in placing a dental sealant is to thoroughly wash and dry these teeth and then apply an acidic solution to roughen the chewing surface enough that the dental sealant can stick to it. Then, we rinse off the solution and fill the tooth surface with a liquid sealant that we harden with a special light.
Sealants are best applied to new molars and premolars that recently emerged, and are ideal for children, though older children or adults can receive sealants too, especially if they have teeth that are at a higher risk of tooth decay.
Keep in mind that dental sealants only cover the chewing surface and while they can do a lot to protect your teeth, you still need to care for your teeth daily and receive dental cleanings and exams regularly.
If you or your child needs dental sealants in Lindon, Utah, please feel free to call Scott M. Healey Dentistry at 801.653.0099 today and schedule a visit with our dentist, Dr. Scott Healey.
