Dental Sealants from Green Dental & Orthodontics

At Green Dental, Sherman Oaks, we believe that prevention is key to maintaining a healthy smile. Therefore, we provide our patients with dental sealants services. Dental sealants are an excellent preventive measure, especially for children and teenagers who are more prone to developing cavities. 

Here’s how dental sealants work:

Thorough Cleaning: Before applying dental sealants, our experienced dental professionals will thoroughly clean and dry the teeth to ensure optimal bonding of the sealant material.

Application: The dental sealant material is then carefully painted onto the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. It bonds quickly to the tooth enamel and hardens under a special light, forming a protective layer.

Long-lasting Protection: The dental sealants once placed, create a smooth surface that is easy to clean and resistant to decay. With proper oral hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups, dental sealants can provide long-lasting protection for several years.

Reasons for Dental Sealants:

• Children and teenagers– If your child has a mouthful of cavities, be sure to start using toothpaste with fluoride at the earliest opportunity. Children’s mouths are more susceptible to cavities during their six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) and throughout the cavity-prone years of 6-16.
• Adults– Tooth surfaces without decay that have deep grooves or depressions.
• Baby teeth– Occasionally done if teeth have deep grooves or depressions and child is cavity prone.

What Do Dental Sealants Involve?

• Sealants are easily applied by your dentist or dental hygienist and the process takes only a couple of minutes per tooth.
• To start a dental sealant application, the teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned. The area is then wrapped in cotton to make sure the teeth stay dry.
• A special solution is applied to the enamel surface to help the sealant bond to the teeth.
• The teeth are then rinsed and dried. Sealant material is carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions.
• Depending on the type of sealant used, the material will either harden automatically or with a special curing light.
• Proper home care, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new sealants.