Dental Sealants in Spring, TX

At Made Ya Smile Rayford, our priority is allowing your family to achieve happy, healthy smiles. While dental sealants are typically recommended for children, they're a preventive measure that can help patients maintain cavity-free teeth at any age. Made of white or tooth-colored material, sealants fill in the pits, fissures, and grooves of the chewing surfaces on the back teeth, the places where cavities often form. The presence of sealants on the premolar and molar teeth helps prevent plaque, food particles, and bacteria from collecting and causing dental tooth decay in these areas, protecting teeth for several years if cared for properly. Our dentist may recommend tooth enamel sealants to patients of any age to help protect their oral health. Schedule a visit at our caring family dental practice in Spring, TX, today to see if you or your children might benefit from dental sealants.

While adults may benefit from sealants, it's children and teens who are most at risk of developing cavities on the premolar or molar teeth. Grooves that naturally exist on these back teeth harbor food, bacteria, and plaque, creating an ideal environment for cavities. It can be hard to properly clean pits and fissures with normal brushing. A protective coating for teeth can smooth out these areas and block harmful material. If you are prone to decay and need a prevention method, you may be a great candidate for sealants. Primarily, they're placed in children aged 6 – 12. To place sealants, the teeth must be cavity-free, fully erupted, and free of fillings or other restorations and are a fast, easy procedure for patients at any age in Spring, TX.

Your child will receive an evaluation from our dentist to check for decay or other oral health issues prior to placing sealants. If they are recommended for cavity prevention, sealants can be placed at that evaluation appointment or at a later date if it's more convenient for your schedule. To place sealants, we first clean the teeth with a special paste and liquid that optimizes the surface of the teeth so the sealants can properly adhere. Then, the teeth will be rinsed and dried before the liquid sealant material is placed into the grooves of the teeth. Each sealant is cured or hardened in less than 30 seconds. Once complete, we will check the bite to ensure it remains comfortable and provide any needed follow-up instructions.

It's a simple procedure to have sealants placed at Made Ya Smile in our Spring, TX office. Your child can immediately return to their normal daily activities following their visit, but we will have a few instructions for them for the first few days. Those who have had tooth enamel sealants placed should avoid hard and sticky foods, like candy, chewing gum, or crunching ice (which we never recommend) for a couple of days. Though the sealants help protect the teeth, it is still necessary to brush and floss to maintain healthy gums, teeth, and smile. At your child's bi-annual cleaning and exam visits, we will check to ensure your child's sealants are functioning well and determine if repair or replacement is necessary.

As a preventive procedure, dental sealants are often covered by dental insurance for children up to a certain age, depending on the plan. Prior to this procedure, we will check with your insurance to determine your benefits schedule. If there will be any out-of-pocket expenses, we will review those with you prior to placing the sealants. Our caring team at Made Ya Smile views a happy, healthy smile for every patient as their top priority, and as such, we offer several convenient payment options along with third-party dental financing through CareCredit®.

How long do dental sealants last?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sealants guard against 80% of cavities for about two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for as many as four years. The CDC also states that sealants may last up to nine years following placement but may not be as effective and may be more likely to fall out or get chipped.

What does it feel like when sealants are applied to the teeth?
Dental sealants are "painted" onto the teeth. The tooth is cleaned and dried, and then the sealant material is gently applied and dried. There is no discomfort, and the treatment is completed very quickly at our Spring, TX office.

Do sealants cause teeth to have a different texture?
Occasionally, children comment that they can feel the edges of the sealant with their tongue following the treatment. But generally, a protective coating for teeth does not cause the sealed teeth to have a different texture than the others.

Minimizing the risk of dental tooth decay with sealants can be a great way to maintain your child's healthy smile. Protecting the chewing surfaces of back teeth can reduce the need for more extensive dental work, like crowns, fillings, or restorations, in the future. We're skilled at providing fast, comfortable care to patients of all ages at Made Ya Smile. Contact our Spring, TX office today to find out if sealants can help protect your family's dental health for years to come.