Dental sealants are used to help protect the deep grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth, particularly in the back teeth or molars. Most tooth decay and cavities form in these grooves because this is one of the most difficult areas from which to remove plaque. To help reduce the risk of decay formation on the chewing surfaces of these teeth, a dental sealant is used to seal off the deep pits and provide a smoother surface that is easier to keep clean and free of dental decay.
Sealants
Clean and Free of dental decay!
BPA Free Sealants
Here at Santa Barbara Children’s Dentistry, we are proud to share that all of our sealants are BPA free. Some sealants contain a compound called Bisphenol-A (BPA). Bisphenols are formed in numerous consumer products including food containers and baby bottles. For your child’s protection, we make sure the sealant used in our office is BPA-free.
Getting dental sealants is quick and painless!
First, the surface to be sealed will be cleaned and either cotton or a fancy isolation device will be placed in your child’s mouth to keep the teeth dry.
Next, a “tooth shampoo” will be placed on your child’s tooth in order to prepare it to receive the sealant. This will be rinsed off after 15-30 seconds prior to sealant placement.
Finally, the fluid sealant material will be applied to the grooves and then cured with a gentle light very similar to the type you would see at a nail salon. The tooth will be rinsed to wash away any residual material, and your child will walk out of our office with more cavity-resistant teeth!
