Preventative Oral Care with Dental Sealants
Because our doctors have advanced training in reconstructing complex smiles, they understand better than anyone the immense value of comprehensive dental care in Torrance. Our focus on preventive general dentistry means we want to catch problems before they ever start. Dental sealants are a cornerstone of this preventive philosophy. We believe that by offering comprehensive general and preventive care in one convenient location, we can serve as your lifelong dental home, guiding you and your family through every stage of your oral health journey.
What Are Dental Sealants?
A dental sealant is a thin, clear, or tooth-colored resin coating that is carefully painted onto the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars (the teeth at the back of your mouth). These specific teeth have highly textured surfaces with deep pits and fissures that help you grind up food. Unfortunately, these same grooves are ideal hiding places for food particles, plaque, and harmful, acid-producing bacteria.
Because sealants are quick and non-invasive to apply, they can often be placed during your routine dental cleaning visit, making preventive care even more convenient. When applied, the liquid sealant flows directly into these deep crevices and hardens, creating a perfectly smooth surface. This durable barrier effectively seals out decay-causing bacteria, making it significantly easier to keep your back teeth clean during your normal brushing routine.
Patient Testimonials
“Just awesome, had a major fear of dentist and dental work since a child , they have me comfortable and am treated with care and compassion and am communicated with every visit and step of the way.”
-Jim S
“Best dental cleaning! Lucy is truly amazing and made me feel so comfortable. Left the office feeling so refreshed. Thank you South Bay Prosthodontics!”
– Lauren M
“100% Focus on patient in terms of dental care and value as a person and patient! I give them extra credit to them for also checking my general health status and any medication changes. As a [young] senior with chronic medical issues, this is valued and helpful.”
– Howard K
Why Sealants Are So Important
Dental sealants are widely considered one of the most powerful and effective tools in modern preventive dentistry. The benefits of choosing to seal your teeth include:
- Massive Cavity Reduction: Dental sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay in the back teeth by up to 80% immediately after application.
- Long-Lasting Defense: When properly cared for, sealants provide years of added protection against enamel erosion and bacterial decay, standing up remarkably well to the daily forces of chewing.
- Conservative, Cost-Effective Care: By proactively protecting the teeth with an affordable sealant, patients, especially growing children, can avoid more invasive, costly, and time-consuming restorative treatments later in life, such as fillings or crowns.
Who Can Benefit From Sealants?
While sealants are frequently associated with pediatric dentistry, they are actually a fantastic preventive measure for patients of all ages who want to safeguard their smiles:
- Children: Kids are excellent candidates for this treatment. We highly recommend applying sealants as soon as a child’s first permanent molars erupt (typically around age 6) and again when their second permanent molars come in (around age 12). Sealing these teeth early protects them during the years when children are still mastering their brushing techniques and are most prone to cavities.
- Teens: Teenagers often face a significantly higher cavity risk. Changes in diet, increased consumption of sugary or highly acidic sports drinks, frequent snacking, and sometimes inconsistent oral hygiene routines make the teenage years a critical time for the added protection of sealants.
- Adults: You do not age out of cavities! Adults without existing decay or dental fillings in their molars can also benefit greatly from sealants. This is especially true if you have naturally deep grooves in your teeth, suffer from dry mouth (which reduces the saliva needed to wash away bacteria), or have a history of frequent cavities.
How Can We Help You?
How Can We
Help You?
Sealants and Preventive Dental Care
Dental sealants are incredibly effective, but they are most successful when they are part of a comprehensive, ongoing oral health routine. We highly recommend combining sealant applications with your routine cleanings and exams.
During these essential biannual visits, our highly trained hygienists will meticulously clean your teeth, utilizing professional tools to remove any hardened plaque (tartar) before the sealant is applied. The accompanying dental exam allows our doctors to take advanced digital radiographs and visually inspect your teeth to ensure they are completely healthy, decay-free, and perfectly ready for the preventive treatment. During your future checkups, we will also evaluate the condition of your existing sealants and easily reapply them if they show signs of wear.
When Other Treatments May Be Needed
It is important to understand that dental sealants are strictly a preventive measure; they are meant to stop problems before they occur, not replace restorative dental care.
- If active decay has already penetrated the enamel and created a cavity, a tooth-colored composite filling will be required to restore the tooth’s health.
- For more extensive damage, structural weakness, or large areas of decay, our prosthodontic experts may recommend advanced, precision-milled restorations such as inlays, onlays, or ceramic dental crowns to rebuild the tooth’s strength and functionality.
What to Expect During the Sealant Procedure
For patients who suffer from dental anxiety, you will be happy to know that getting dental sealants is a remarkably fast, completely painless, and highly effective process. It requires no drilling, needles, or numbing anesthesia. The entire process takes just a few minutes per tooth:
- Preparation: The targeted teeth are thoroughly cleaned to remove any lingering plaque or food debris, then completely dried. We place an absorbent material around the tooth to keep it perfectly dry during the process.
- Conditioning: A mild, acidic conditioning gel is briefly applied to the chewing surface to slightly roughen the enamel at a microscopic level. This crucial step helps the sealant material form a strong, lasting bond with the tooth.
- Application: After the gel is rinsed away and the tooth is dried again, the liquid resin sealant is carefully painted directly into the deep enamel grooves.
- Curing: Finally, we use a blue curing light to instantly harden and set the coating.
Because the material hardens in a matter of seconds, there is no recovery period required. You or your child can resume normal eating, drinking, and daily activities right away!
Protect Your Smile Today
Protecting your teeth from cavities has never been easier or more comfortable. Preventive care is an investment in your overall health that saves you time, money, and discomfort in the long run. Whether you are looking to protect your child’s newly erupted molars or looking for added cavity defense for yourself, we are here to help.
Schedule a cleaning and exam at our Torrance dental office today and ask our team if dental sealants are the right choice for you or your family. Call South Bay Prosthodontics at (310) 378-9261 to book your appointment!
