Dentist in Mint Hill, NC
That is all there is to it. Sealants are designed to be a worry-free preventive treatment.
It is normal to feel the sealant with your tongue for the first day or two. Your teeth may feel slightly different where the sealant was placed, and you may notice the new texture when you run your tongue over your back teeth. This sensation fades quickly as you get used to it. If after a few days the bite still feels off when you chew, give us a call so we can check it.
Sealants are a thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where the deep grooves and pits are nearly impossible to clean perfectly with a toothbrush. Those grooves are where the majority of cavities start, especially in children and teenagers. The sealant fills in and smooths over those grooves so food and bacteria cannot settle into them.
Sealants are most commonly placed on children’s permanent molars as they come in, but adults with deep grooves and no decay in those teeth can benefit from them too. A sealant takes minutes to place, requires no numbing, and can protect a tooth for years.
Sealants can last several years with normal wear, and we check them at your regular cleaning visits. Over time a sealant can wear down or chip, and when that happens we can simply reapply it. Wearing a nightguard if you grind your teeth and not chewing on hard objects like ice or pens helps them last longer.
If you have any questions after your appointment, call us at (704) 323-7577.
Avoid chewing ice and hard objects, like pens, which can chip a sealant over time.
Sealants are most common on children’s permanent molars, but adults with deep grooves in their back teeth and no existing decay can benefit from them too. Ask your hygienist or doctor whether sealants make sense for you.