The biting and chewing surfaces of many teeth — especially molars and premolars at the back of teeth — have many grooves and pits. Those grooves and pits naturally trap food particles, sugar, acids and bacteria that can contribute to tooth decay and the development of cavities. A dentist near you in Richmond Hill uses dental sealants to protect naturally grooved and pitted teeth from developing cavities by sealing those teeth to keep food particles, sugar, acids and bacteria from accumulating in those grooves and pits. Sealing those teeth with dental sealants near you in Richmond Hill helps around the clock in two ways: It’ll be easier to remove all those substances from teeth, and they won’t physically be able to come into contact with vulnerable teeth enamel.
Dental sealants in Richmond Hill are frequently recommended for children and teenagers who are particularly vulnerable to developing cavities in their molars and premolars. Adults whose teeth are not already affected by cavities and tooth decay are also good candidates for having dental sealants applied.
When applying dental sealants to the teeth of children, teens or even adults, a dentist in Richmond Hill will follow three steps:
First, your dentist will thoroughly clean the teeth to be sealed to make sure the sealants don’t trap potentially harmful substances against the enamel.
Second, your dentist will completely dry the teeth and apply an acidic etching compound to the teeth. That etching compound will accomplish two tasks: It will roughen the tooth to allow the sealant to bond securely to the tooth, and it will kill any bacteria that remain on your teeth after they are cleaned. That etching compound won’t hurt at all, even if you get it on your tongue —though it will taste sharp and bitter. After a minute or so, the dentist or hygienist will rinse away the etching compound and again dry your teeth before going to the next step.
Third, the dentist in Richmond Hill will use a small brush or syringe to put a layer of sealant — a liquid plastic — thick enough to run into and fill the grooves and pits in your teeth. The sealant liquid hardens as it cools, a process that is accelerated by exposing the sealed teeth to blue light to cure and dry the substance. Your dentist will shine that blue light onto every portion of the sealed teeth to ensure it is completely dry, hardened and cured — a process that will take just one minute.
Your dentist will apply the sealant carefully to ensure that: it’s not so thick that it adds too much bulk to the teeth to interfere with chewing or how upper and lower teeth meet; it’s not so thin that it fails to seal each pit and groove.
Well-applied and well-maintained dental sealants will protect teeth for as long as five to ten years. Rather than just waiting for the sealant to chip away, though, your dentist will examine each sealed tooth at each dental check-up. If the sealant gets worn or chipped, your dentist will perform touch-ups. Just like you’d touch up a paint chip in your home.
If you’re interested in maximizing your defences against tooth decay and cavities — or to protect your kids’ teeth — ask a dentist near you about the availability and suitability of dental sealants. In just minutes and at a price far cheaper than the cost of a filling or root canal, your dentist can place a solid and long-lasting shield between vulnerable teeth and dangerous acids and bacteria.