Sealant Services
Sealants in Gulf Port, MS
Sealants are a common preventive treatment in dentistry. Some teeth have fine grooves or pits that accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush, but because the grooves are too narrow to allow even one bristle into them. When plaque accumulates, it can lead to cavities and other types of tooth decay. To apply sealants, plastic material is brushed onto the tooth, filling these narrow grooves and preventing the cavity-causing buildup.
Why Should You Get Sealants?
A healthy routine of flossing and brushing can definitely remove plaque and food particles from your teeth. However, they can’t always reach every nook of the back teeth to remove leftover food fragments, which makes them very vulnerable to cavities. Sealants protect these hard-to-reach areas from tooth decay by stopping bacteria from setting on your teeth.
Who Can Get Sealants?
Since sealants are a preventive treatment, patients get sealants as early as possible. Kids ages 6 -14 have a higher probability of getting cavities, therefore is recommended that kids get sealants as soon as their permanent molars and premolars come in. It is not uncommon for adults without decay in their molars to benefit from these protective layers.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Applying sealants is a painless process and it only takes a couple of minutes for your dentist to seal each tooth. The first step is to clean and dry thoroughly the teeth. Your dentist will then apply an acidic solution to roughen up the surface, allowing the sealant to bond better to the teeth. After the gel is rinsed and the teeth are dried, your dentist will apply the sealant to areas of the tooth that need protection. Finally, the sealant is hardened with the help of a special light.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
In most cases, sealants can last up to 10 years. During your annual dental check-ups, your dentist can replace the sealants as needed.
Are Sealants Covered By Insurance?
Most insurance plans cover the cost of sealants. Make sure to contact your dental insurance to determine if your current plan covers sealants. You can also call our dental office in case you have any specific questions.
Gulf Coast Dental Care is happy to provide Dental Services to the Gulfport community. In addition to dental sealants we also offer implant restorations, bonding, root canals, dental cleaning and much more.
