Sealants | Queens, Brooklyn, New York

What are sealants?

A sealant is a special plastic coating applied to prevent the decay of teeth. It is advised that sealants be applied to the premolars and permanent molars of children to protect their teeth into their teenage years.

Sealants are thin layers of special plastic or resin-based material. When we apply the sealant to your child’s tooth, the soft material will flow into the grooves and sink into the caverns and crannies, forming a protective shield. By the time your child begins to have the molars erupt, the ridges developing on the chewing surfaces of the teeth become harder to clean and will then stand a chance of harboring plaque and bacteria that can cause cavities. You may expect sealants to save your child's teeth for up to nine years. Accordingly, the dental sealants prevent the accumulation of plaque on the ridges of your child's teeth and help avoid decay.

We can use sealants on teeth with small cavities so they will not increase in size. Even though the baby teeth will eventually fall out, we would like these teeth to remain healthy long enough to provide function until the child’s permanent teeth are ready to come in. When a sealant comes out of a tooth, we can easily replace it.

What is the process for applying sealants?

Before applying sealant, we clean the tooth and then apply an acid that converts the surface of the tooth to make it rough. Roughening the tooth surface allows for better bonding of the sealant to the tooth. Afterward, the acid is cleaned off from your child’s tooth, and the sealant is painted onto the tooth surface. A light is used to cure and harden the sealant. The procedure for placing sealants is fast and pain-free, requiring no anesthesia.

What are the advantages?

Sealants have multiple advantages making them a great option for your child:

Dental sealants are like an umbrella for your child’s teeth covering them against cavities

The protective sealants put on your child’s teeth work effectively to minimize the risk for decay. When combined with proper brushing and flossing and regular dental cleanings, sealants greatly reduce the chance of your child getting cavities or plaque buildup.

Cavities are painful and create sensitivity, and untreated cavities can cause infection or damage with appearance and function. Beyond this, untreated decay may affect the health of other teeth in your child and the health of the surrounding gum tissue.

Longevity and Durability

Sealants provide almost another decade of protection. Many insurance companies will also cover the costs of sealants, making them an economical solution to support the oral health of your child.

Sealants are invisible

The thin material using sealants is guaranteed to be invisible; it will not be from any aesthetic or functional point of view. Your child may notice that their tooth feels a little strange or has a slick surface; otherwise, they will bite, chew, and speak as normal.