These areas can start to trap residual food particles and plaque, which make them hard to effectively clean with brushing alone. This can result in large cavities forming on the biting surfaces, which require large inlay or onlay fillings to repair. Later on in life, these large fillings could prove problematic.

If your child has deep textures on their molars and premolars, your dentist, Dr. Joseph Szymczak, might recommend protecting the biting surface with dental sealants.

Dental sealants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are made of durable, plastic resin that your dentist carefully paints onto the biting surfaces of molars and premolars. A special ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin, creating a protective layer. If plaque and food particles get trapped on the biting surfaces, the dental sealants will prevent the bacteria from having direct access to the underlying tooth enamel.

Dental sealants are often applied immediately after your child’s regular dental checkup at MI Roots Family Dental. This way we known the enamel is perfectly clean. The dental sealants are very durable and can help protect the biting surfaces for several years.

If your son or daughter has all of their permanent molars and premolars, you should contact MI Roots Family Dental at 616-453-0002 to ask about having dental sealants applied.

The post The Chances of Cavities Developing on the Back Teeth Can Be Reduced by Dental Sealants first appeared on MI Roots Family Dental.

Usually, dental sealants are placed on children and teenagers’ teeth when the premolars and molars first come in. Patients are more prone to cavities at these ages and sealants will help protect their teeth. However, adults can have dental sealants placed as well. Your dental sealants will last for years and can be replaced when needed.

Before placing dental sealants, your dentist will first clean the teeth thoroughly. Then a solution is placed on the teeth that creates a rough surface for the dental sealants to attach to. The solution is rinsed off and the teeth are dried. Your dentist will then paint the dental sealant onto the teeth, where it bonds into place. A special light, which is called a curing light, can be used to help the sealant harden more quickly. When you come in for routine dental appointments, your dentist will monitor the condition of your sealants and reapply them when necessary. Contact your dentist today to learn more about how sealants can shield your teeth and to schedule an appointment.

The post Shielding Your Teeth with Sealants first appeared on MI Roots Family Dental.

The Problem
The molars have deep depressions that are uneven and bumpy, making them difficult to clean well — especially for children. These pits and fissures (grooves) in the back teeth tend to collect food and plaque that make them vulnerable to decay. Sealants essentially create a barrier that “seals out” acids, plaque and food.

How Sealants Are Applied
Sealants are easy for the dentist and easy for the patient: The tooth is cleaned and dried. Then we apply a solution that helps the sealant to stick to the tooth. The sealant is painted onto the tooth in its initial liquid form which quickly hardens to create a protective shield over that portion of the tooth.

What’s Best for Your Oral Health?
Sealants have been in use for decades now. They are safe and effective at helping to prevent cavities. Obviously, we still strongly encourage you to brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste, floss once every day, eat a well-balanced diet with limited snacks and sugar and visit us for your regular cleanings and checkups.

Dr. Osenieks can determine whether sealants are right for you at this time. Feel free to visit our office or to call 616-453-0002 if you have any questions about dental sealants.

The post What Are Dental Sealants? first appeared on MI Roots Family Dental.