Dental Sealants
One of the most beneficial methods of protecting your smile is by making the choice to implement preventative measures. Your smile is meant to last a lifetime, yet it will not last that long if you do not take proper care of it. Prevention requires a bit of effort and active participation – both done on a regular basis. By brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, you are doing a great deal to help preserve your smile. Another way that you can protect your smile and prevent major damage to your teeth is by having dental sealants applied to your molars.
Dental sealants are one of the most beneficial preventative measures because they require no more effort than requesting that they be applied. Dental sealants literally “seal out” damage, bacteria, and decay from your back teeth. The molars and pre-molars are rough teeth with deep grooves and pits that allow food particles, sugars, debris, and bacteria to become trapped. Many parents opt to have dental sealants applied to their children’s teeth as a means of protecting them from decay, yet they often overlook how beneficial this prevention can be to their own teeth.
Adults can benefit just as greatly from dental sealants as children and adults. Dental sealants create a barrier on the back teeth so that they are not constantly assaulted by damaging bacteria within the mouth. Brushing the back molars is always a necessary dental hygiene habit, but brushing is often not enough to remove trapped particles from the rough surfaces of these teeth.
Dental sealants are a painless application. After the teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, the teeth are prepared with a special substance that allows the sealants to attach to the teeth. This “etching” substance allows for the plastic material of dental sealants to coat the back molars and fill in the grooves and pits. This plastic material is hardened with a special curing light so that the sealants immediately bond with the molars to create a blockade against harmful matters that can get trapped in the back teeth. Dental sealants last between 2-4 years, and their durability is checked at each dental visit to ensure they are still well placed.
Contact the practice of Dr. Wayne G. Suway today to schedule an appointment. Ask how you can take advantage of this outstanding preventive measure.
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1820 The Exchange SE, #600
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (770) 953-1752
FAX: (770) 953-6470
Mon - Thu: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PMClosed for lunch: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM