Dental sealants in Long Beach are made from a strong plastic material that is bonded to the enamel of the biting surfaces of the back teeth (the molars and premolars). The sealants cover deep grooves in the teeth that are hard to clean and where food and plaque can build up.
Ultimately, the reason your Long Beach family dentist recommends dental sealants is that they help prevent tooth decay, particularly in patients that are at high risk for decay.
You can think of dental sealants like shields that defend and protect your teeth from plaque, sugars, and bacteria that can break down enamel and cause decay.
By providing a protective barrier, the sealants can help prevent more serious dental issues most often attributed to dental decay including:
It takes just a minute or two to place a sealant on a single tooth. Some patients might take a bit longer than others due to various factors including age, cooperation, and saliva flow.
Since sealants are a preventative procedure, they don’t require anesthesia. Your Long Beach dentist simply cleans the pits and fissures of the teeth, rinses, isolates the teeth, places the sealant material, and light cures it so it hardens.
Patients can eat and drink and return to school or other activities right after the procedure.
Dental sealants in Long Beach can often last between five to 10 years if they’re taken care of with regular, proper brushing, and avoiding overly acidic or sugary foods.
If you have sealants, your dentist will check them during each appointment to make sure they’re still intact and functioning well. If necessary, your Long Beach dentist can easily replace a sealant.
There are no known side effects of sealants, though some patients with certain allergies might not be good candidates for dental sealants.
There is a risk that a sealant can seal in decay if the tooth is not properly evaluated or cleaned before the sealant is placed. Therefore, it is important that patients receive their sealants from a top-quality Long Beach dentist with a good reputation and track record.
You can lose a dental sealant for a couple of reasons.
Insurance companies categorize dental sealants as a preventative treatment. Therefore, many insurance companies pay most of the cost – if not all of it. In many cases, the payments from insurance for dental sealants stops at age 18. If an adult needs or opts for dental sealants in Long Beach, they may have to pay out of pocket.
Children are the best candidates for dental sealants since they:
Some adults are also good candidates for dental sealants in Long Beach. Talk to your Long Beach family dentist to find out who in your family is a good candidate for sealants.
The best time to get dental sealants is during childhood. Sealants can help prevent major dental issues that can cause discomfort and distress and cost a lot of money. If you didn’t get sealants as a child, you can still ask your dentist if they can help you prevent future dental issues. After all, a little prevention can go a long way!
Keep Your Family’s Smiles Healthy With Dental Sealants in Long Beach
We want to help everyone in your family keep their adult teeth healthy and strong for a lifetime – including your kids. Contact us today at (562) 373-0026 to schedule an appointment for dental sealants.
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