Sealants

Keeping your teeth free from cavities and decay is a daily challenge. Although many people are dedicated to healthy habits, their efforts alone may not be enough to protect teeth. Sealants are often used to bolster people’s brushing and flossing regimes. These defensive layers can help keep bacteria from building up in a tooth’s crevices and forming painful cavities.

How Dental Sealants Work

Although it is important to carry out your regular dental routine, it is also helpful to investigate the benefits of sealants. Understanding how they can work to protect your teeth is a great place to start. Your brushing and flossing efforts are enhanced by sealants because they can prevent the wear down of the protective layer. Once a sealant is in place, they can help you keep food, bacteria, and decay away from the hard-to-reach crevices in your teeth.

They are applied by:

- Buffing the surface of each tooth
- Applying the initial layer of adhesive sealant
- Moving the sealant over each tooth
- Drying the sealant in place with a dental light

For most people, sealants will stand up to bacteria and decay for up to 10 years. If a dental professional recognizes that your sealants are beginning to wear down, a new layer can be applied. Children are often excellent candidates for dental sealants because their teeth have not begun to decay and can be most effectively protected.

To find out more information about sealants and protecting your teeth, contact a trusted, Austin dental professional today.