Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a preventive measure to help protect your teeth from cavity growth and decay. The sealant is a protective coating that is applied by our Torrance dentist directly to the chewing surface of your teeth. Daily eating and drinking habits create bacteria shortly after consumption. The contours and crevasses that exist on the chewing surface of your teeth can trap bacteria, food particles and plaque that allow cavity formation that leads to tooth decay when not removed.

Dental sealants are designed to provide protection to your teeth for several years after application. The sealants can be examined during a routine checkup to evaluate damage and normal wear and tear. Sealants may need to be re-applied to provide extended protection for your teeth.


When Dental Sealants are Applied

• Children and Teens: When the back teeth are present inside the mouth of a child, dental sealants may be applied. The average child is most susceptible to cavity growth between the age of four and seventeen. Sealants are used to provide healthy teeth to children.

• Adults: The deep grooves and indentations that exist in adult teeth can be sealed to provide additional protection against cavity growth. Sealants are beneficial to apply to healthy teeth that do not have signs of tooth decay.

• Infant and Primary Teeth: When deep impressions and grooves exist, dental sealants may be applied occasionally for a child that develops cavities easily.

Dental Sealants Procedure

Dental sealants are applied after your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned. This ensures that there are no existing food deposits or bacteria present on your teeth before the sealants are applied by our Torrance cosmetic dentist. The sealants are applied and allowed to bond to the teeth surface.

Dental sealants are a separate treatment and are not related to fluoride. The sealants are used as an additional preventive measure along with fluoride to help preserve the quality of your teeth to fight off cavity growth and tooth decay. Maintaining proper oral care, regular dental checkups and a balanced diet will help prolong the effectiveness of dental sealants applied to your teeth.