Sealants

What is a sealant?

One of the most common places that tooth decay develops is on the chewing surface of the molars (back teeth). A dental sealant is a light curred dental material that is applied to a chewing surface of a tooth with deep grooves, depressions or pits.

Sealants can be applied on children, teenagers and adults.

Deep grooves, depressions or pits are hard to clean with a toothbrush. The sealant material is a barrier, sealing out plaque and food that can cause decay.

Does the procedure hurt? And how long does it take?

The sealant procedure is done in Dr. Magnuson’s office and is absolutely pain free! The sealant procedure takes less time than a filling. Novocaine is never used.

How do we apply a sealant?

The tooth receiving the sealant material is cleaned with pumis paste, prepared with a blue jelly primer and then the flowable sealant material is applied into the grooves. The material is then hardened with a curing light.

How long do sealants last?

Sealant materials are designed to hold up to everyday chewing force. They can last years before a reapplication is needed. It is important to know that sealants do not resist teeth grinding and very gummy or chewy foods.