Dental Sealants

At Smiles of Chevy Chase, patients can expect a gentle, thorough application of sealants in a comfortable, relaxed environment, ensuring long-lasting protection and a bright, healthy smile.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are thin, plastic-like coatings for your back teeth. By painting these coatings onto the surfaces of these teeth, your dentist creates a protective barrier against unhealthy bacteria. This barrier will help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar to keep your teeth healthy.

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Overview

Dental sealants are a protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to help prevent cavities and tooth decay by sealing out food and bacteria. The best treatment for tooth decay is prevention, which is why the Smiles of Chevy Chase team offers dental sealants. Keep reading to learn more about the many benefits of this simple, non-invasive measure against tooth decay from our skilled Chevy Chase general dentist.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Best Candidates For Dental Sealants

Ideal candidates for dental sealants include anyone prone to cavities or oral diseases due to genetics or poor oral hygiene. Most often, sealants are recommended for young children and teenagers who may have difficulty maintaining regular brushing and flossing habits at home.

If you already have deep cavities, you may need tooth-colored fillings instead. Your Chevy Chase general dentist will go over your options with you during your initial consultation.

What To Expect From Dental Sealants

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Initial Consultation

Your dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth, take X-rays, review your medical history, and ask you about your smile goals. This information will help her determine if dental sealants are right for you.

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Placing Dental Sealants

If you’ve been approved for dental sealants, our hygienist will clean and polish your teeth to remove plaque, bacteria, and tartar. Then, the dentist will apply the sealant with a small brush and set it with a special light. After the application, she’ll ensure that the sealant has settled correctly.

Call Smiles of Chevy Chase About Simple, Painless Cavity Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Dental sealants can last several years. To help your sealants last as long as possible you’ll need to follow a few instructions:

  • Visit your dentist at least once every six months for touch-ups
  • Brush twice a day, floss before bed, and rinse between meals
  • Avoid putting pressure on your teeth by eating sticky and hard foods
  • Don’t bite down on non-food items
  • Limit acidic foods and drinks like coffee, citrus fruits, and alcohol
  • Wear a nightguard if you experience bruxism (teeth grinding)

Dental sealants are a safe and highly effective way to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. The medical grade resin used for dental sealants makes them safe to have long-term. Due to their low costs and their ability to help prevent cavities, staining, and enamel thinning, most dentists recommend sealants to patients of all ages.

Adults can qualify for dental sealants, but sometimes their oral health needs more intensive care. Teeth that need to be treated for issues such as cavities, deep cracks, or infection should be taken care of before sealants are applied. Your dentist will give you your options for treatment during your initial consultation.