Dental Sealants | Dentist Grand Rapids, MI

Did you know that the number one chronic childhood illness in the United States is tooth decay?

Thankfully, tooth decay can be prevented by dental sealants. Like the name suggests, sealants seal the surface of the tooth so food particles, plaque, and bacteria can’t hide in the grooves of back teeth (also called molars).

While most patients who receive tooth sealants are children or teenagers, our Grand Rapids family dentist can also do this procedure on adults if needed.

Why You Might Need Sealants

Molars are vulnerable to tooth decay because they are used frequently to grind up any food we eat. Back teeth are also more difficult to reach with a toothbrush or floss. Since molars first come in around 5 to 7 years of age, we recommend having a sealant placed when the molars first come in. The second set of molars comes in between the ages of 11 and 14.

Early protection of molars will prevent childhood cavities further down the road. Our family dentist can help you determine if dental sealants are needed for your child.

Tooth Sealant Procedure

First, our dentist will clean the teeth that are to be sealed. One benefit of dental sealants is the patient does not have to be numb for the procedure. An acid solution is then used on the chewing surfaces to roughen them up. Our family dentist then paints the sealant directly onto your tooth where it bonds and hardens. With proper care, you can expect your tooth sealants to last up to 10 years. You’ll need to schedule dental exams every six months so our dentist can determine if the sealants need touching up.

Alexandra Dodds DDS strives to help patients feel confident with healthy beautiful smiles. If you are interested in learning more about how to prevent tooth decay, call our Grand Rapids dentist at (616) 245-3205.