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Dental Sealants – Soldotna, AK

Better Protection Against Bacteria

Animated smile showing how bacteria damages teeth without dental sealants

As parents, you want your child’s smile to look and feel healthy and beautiful, right? The thought of tooth decay and cavities causes you to cringe, not only for the additional time and money it costs to fix these problems but more so for the damage they can cause to your little one’s smile. To protect against these kinds of dental problems, the dentistry Soldotna Dental Arts is pleased to offer a safe and effective solution – dental sealants in our Soldotna, AK dental office! With this method of preventive care, we can better protect your child’s developing smile. Contact our dental office today to set up an appointment for your child!

Why Choose Soldotna Dental Arts for Dental Sealants?

  • Kind, Compassionate Dental Team
  • Kid-Friendly Environment
  • Dentist with Years of Experience

What Are Dental Sealants?

Closeup of smile after dental sealant placement

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are painted onto the back molars and premolars of your child’s teeth. These chewing surfaces contain numerous pits and grooves that are ideal traps for food particles and bacteria to enter. By covering the surfaces of these teeth with dental sealants, your child’s teeth will be protected against anything that could potentially harm their teeth and cause tooth decay or cavities.

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Child with dental sealants smiling

Typically, dental sealants can last several years, but this is only possible if your child takes proper care of their oral health. As a parent, you should monitor their morning and nighttime routines to make sure they are properly brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Should they continue this routine diligently, their teeth will remain protected for many years.

You should also make sure they are avoiding hard, crunchy foods, as this can damage the sealant and ultimately, their teeth. During their regular six-month checkups, our team will examine the sealants to determine if a new coating should be applied.

Which Teeth Need to Be Covered?

Dentist examining smile after placing dental sealants

Your child’s back teeth (molars and premolars) have the most nooks and crannies. When eating or consuming beverages, tiny particles can become trapped in these areas, making them more susceptible to developing cavities over time. While their saliva can help to flush away most surface particles, it is those that burrow down deep into teeth that are not as easily removed. This is why dental sealants are effective at blocking harmful bacteria from entering these areas.

However, should your child’s dentist believe other teeth would benefit from sealants, they may recommend treatment.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Sealants?

Child laughing outdoors

Dental sealants are beneficial for people of all ages; however, they are most commonly placed on younger individuals who are often more vulnerable to developing cavities and tooth decay. Because children are unable to effectively clean certain areas of their mouth due to minimal dexterity, it makes it much harder to combat these problems without preventive measures like sealants.

How Are Dental Sealants Placed?

Closeup of dentist placing dental sealants

One of the great aspects of dental sealants is that they are easy to place, and the process is completely painless. During a regular preventive dentistry visit to our dental office, our team will thoroughly clean your child’s teeth before applying a solution that will help the sealant adhere to their teeth. Once this is rinsed off, their teeth will be dried before the thin, plastic coating is applied to their molars and premolars. Using a special curing light, the substance will harden into place.