Hillsboro Dental Sealants to Protect Kids’ Smiles
The Dentists at Orenco for Kids are dedicated to helping our patients at any age achieve and maintain their optimal level of oral health to keep their natural teeth for life. That’s why we encourage patients to visit our office at least two times each year, and brush and floss their teeth daily. Dental sealants are a quick, affordable, and painless preventive dentistry service that gives young patients an advantage in keeping smiles healthy. As the name implies, dental sealants are applied to teeth creating a barrier that seals out potentially harmful bacteria and plaque. Sealants are a plastic material that is painted on in a liquid form and hardened into position. The sealant material fills in all the tiny crevices and dips in the surfaces of teeth that are difficult to clean with brushing and flossing alone. In fact, some of the deeper fissures cannot even be accessed by a single toothbrush bristle making them nearly impossible to keep clean. If you or your children are interested in finding out more, ask about dental sealants during your next dental checkup or contact our Hillsboro, OR dental team today.
The Application Process
Sealants can be quickly applied during any dental checkup. We simply paint a thin layer of sealant material over the surfaces of teeth allowing the material to fill in the deep pits and grooves. The sealant material bonds with teeth and is hardened into position where it creates an invisible barrier between teeth and bacteria. With proper care, sealants last for up to ten years, and we will examine the sealants during dental checkups looking for signs of wear or areas that may require reapplication. When necessary, our team applies a new coat of sealant for optimal oral health protection.
Who Should Consider Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are typically recommended for kids and adults who have a history of frequent tooth decay, one or more cavities each year. Sealants are most often applied to the back teeth, molars and premolars, as these teeth typically have deeper pits and fissures in the chewing surfaces where bacteria can be trapped leading to decay, but we can apply dental sealants to any tooth surface. Patients who struggle with bruxism (unconscious teeth grinding and clenching) are not good candidates for dental sealants as they are likely to grind away the protective barrier quickly. Patients who have sensitive teeth may also want to consider dental sealants as they are often able to protect teeth and reduce sensitivity to changes in temperature or certain foods.
The Benefits of Dental Sealants
- Quick and painless way to protect kids’ smiles from potentially damaging bacteria and plaque
- Long lasting coverage keeps teeth safe from decay up to ten years
- An affordable way to protect smiles saving time and money that may be required for more advanced restorative care later
- Gives kids a leg up especially if they are struggling with caring for their smiles