Dental Sealants Hilliard, OH
Maintaining your oral health is a lifelong commitment, and preventing tooth decay before it begins is one of the most effective strategies for achieving a healthy smile. While brushing and flossing are essential parts of your daily dental care routine, some areas of your teeth are more challenging to clean than others. This is where a simple and effective treatment can make a significant difference.
At Hilliard Modern Dental in Hilliard, OH, we want to make it easy for you to protect your smile against tooth decay. Dr. Benjamin R. Lamielle, DDS, provides dental sealant placement as part of our commitment to preventive dental care. Sealants are a simple, painless process that can make a big difference in your long-term oral health.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental sealants are thin coatings of protective material placed on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, most often on permanent molars. These surfaces tend to have deep depressions and crannies in the back of teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t always reach. As a result, food particles can linger, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
By applying a protective shield, sealants create a physical barrier that prevents bacteria and leftover food particles from entering. This reduces the likelihood of dental caries developing in these vulnerable areas. Sealants work best on the first molars and second molars, but in some cases, they may also be applied to baby teeth if a child is at high risk of cavities.
Who Can Benefit From Sealants?
Dental sealants are most often recommended for children and teens, but adults can benefit as well. Sealants are ideal for:
- Children getting their first molars – Sealants are most effective when applied soon after permanent teeth erupt. The first molars usually appear around age 6.
- Teens with second molars – Sealants placed when second molars come in (around age 12) can protect these important teeth through the cavity-prone adolescent years.
- Adults with cavity risk – If your chewing surfaces have deep grooves or if you’ve experienced cavities before, sealants can reduce your risk of future decay.
- Baby teeth with deep depressions – In some cases, sealing baby teeth is recommended when the tooth surface is challenging to keep clean, helping to prevent early stages of decay before permanent teeth arrive.
Adding sealants at the right time can prevent cavities, protect the enamel of each tooth, and save you from needing more extensive treatments in the long run.
When Sealants May Not Be Needed
Not every patient requires dental sealants. They may not be necessary if:
- Teeth already have smooth surfaces of teeth without deep grooves
- A filling or crown is already covering the chewing surface
- The patient has a very low risk of cavities based on oral health history
Dr. Lamielle will evaluate your smile and let you know if sealants would benefit your specific needs.
The Safety of Dental Sealants
Many patients ask about the safety of dental materials used in sealants. The American Dental Association supports dental sealant use as a safe and effective method to prevent dental caries.
Some sealants are made from resin sealants that may contain very small amounts of bisphenol A (BPA). Research shows that the levels are extremely low—much lower than everyday exposure from food and environmental sources—and considered safe.
At Hilliard Modern Dental, we carefully select dental materials to ensure that every treatment is both safe and effective for your oral health.
If you still have concerns about the safety of dental sealants, schedule a consultation at our Hilliard office. Dr. Lamielle will be happy to answer your questions.
Placing Dental Sealants at Hilliard Modern Dental
Dental sealant application is quick, comfortable, and non-invasive. The appointment can often be completed in just one visit and usually takes only a few minutes per tooth. Here’s what you can expect during dental sealant placement:
- Cleaning the tooth surface – The tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove any food particles and plaque.
- Drying the tooth – The area is kept dry to prepare for the sealant bond.
- Applying an acid solution – This gentle step slightly roughens the enamel of each tooth so the sealant material can adhere properly.
- Rinsing and drying – After the acid solution is rinsed away, the tooth is dried again.
- Placing the sealant material – A thin plastic coating or resin sealant is carefully painted onto the chewing surface of your back teeth.
- Curing the sealant – A special light may be used to harden the sealant material, creating a durable protective coating.
We offer our patients a painless process, and patients can return to their normal activities right away. Once applied, sealants act as a protective coating over the chewing surfaces of the teeth, reducing the risk of cavities and keeping vulnerable areas safe from decay.
Sealants for Children vs. Adults
Dental sealants are a versatile preventive tool suitable for both children and adults in Hilliard. However, Dr. Lamielle may have a different approach depending on age.
Sealants for Children
Children benefit from sealants as soon as their first molars and second molars erupt. These teeth have deep grooves and crannies that are particularly prone to tooth decay. Applying a protective coating early can shield these vulnerable areas from leftover food particles and bacteria, preventing cavities before they start. Sealants are painless and are especially helpful for children who may have difficulty reaching every chewing surface with a toothbrush.
Sealants for Adults
Adults can also gain from sealants, particularly if they are at high risk for dental caries or have permanent molars with deep depressions. Even if decay has been minimal in the past, sealants provide an additional layer of protection, reducing the likelihood of future cavities and helping to maintain overall oral health. For adults, sealants can be applied to newly erupted teeth or to areas where enamel has worn, complementing routine dental care.
Dental Sealants and Preventing Cavities
Dental sealants are proven to help prevent cavities. By acting as a physical barrier, sealants stop bacteria and leftover food particles from collecting in the deep grooves and depressions of molars. Studies have shown that children and teens with sealants have significantly fewer cavities than those without.
Sealants don’t replace good brushing and flossing habits, but they provide an added layer of protection for vulnerable areas. When combined with fluoride treatments, routine cleanings, and a healthy diet, they play a key role in reducing the risk of tooth decay.
Sealants are designed to last for many years with proper dental care. On average, they can remain effective for five to ten years, though they may need to be checked during routine exams.
Over time, sealants may wear down or chip, especially on chewing surfaces that experience heavy pressure. If needed, they can easily be reapplied. Dr. Lamielle will check your sealants at each visit to ensure they are still providing strong protection against tooth decay.
Sealants vs. Other Preventive Treatments
While fluoride strengthens the enamel of each tooth, sealants specifically protect the chewing surfaces of the teeth where toothbrush bristles may not reach. Unlike fillings or crowns, which are used to repair teeth after damage occurs, sealants are purely preventive.
This means dental sealants are one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent cavities before they start. For children and adults at high risk, this proactive approach can help avoid more costly and invasive treatments in the future.
Maintaining Sealants and Oral Health
Dental sealants provide an extra layer of protection for your chewing surfaces, but maintaining good oral health is essential to ensure their long-term effectiveness. Even with sealants, regular dental care is necessary to prevent cavities on the smooth surfaces of teeth and between teeth where brushing may not reach.s
Start by brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, focusing on the enamel of each tooth. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to clean gently around the edges of sealants, removing leftover food particles that can contribute to tooth decay. Daily flossing is equally important to remove debris from areas between teeth that sealants cannot cover.
Routine visits to our dental office allow Dr. Lamielle, DDS, to check the integrity of your sealants and the overall oral health of your teeth. During these checkups, we can reapply sealants if they have worn down, ensuring continued protection against dental caries.
Limiting sugary snacks and acidic drinks, staying hydrated, and practicing good oral hygiene all help maximize the lifespan of your sealants. When combined with professional care and healthy habits, sealants serve as a durable protective coating for your teeth’s chewing surfaces, reducing the risk of cavities and supporting strong, healthy teeth for years to come.
Protect Your Teeth with Sealants
Dental sealants are a valuable tool in the fight against cavities, especially for children and adults at higher risk. By acting as a protective barrier over the enamel, they can significantly reduce the likelihood of decay and promote long-term oral health.
Protect your smile with dental sealants at Hilliard Modern Dental. Whether you’re bringing in your child for their first molars or you’re an adult looking to reduce your risk of tooth decay, sealants are a simple and effective option.
Call 614-529-9644 today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Lamielle, DDS, and take the next step toward long-lasting oral health.
