Dental Sealants
Think of dental sealants as raincoats for your teeth. Once in place, they block the buildup of bacteria, tartar, plaque, and food particles, protecting your teeth from decay and cavities. Sealants are the perfect treatment for patients who struggle with cavities or have difficulty maintaining healthy dental habits at home.
Best Candidates for Dental Sealants
Patients who experience a lot of issues with cavities are the best candidates for sealants. They’re an excellent option for younger patients that have trouble keeping up with good dental habits at home. At a young age, sealants help prevent cavities and the onset of tooth decay. As you age, sealants help preserve those hard-to-reach back teeth and make brushing and rinsing away excess bacteria easy. Though generally suggested for those with genetic dispositions to cavities, sealants are a smart, preventive action for anyone looking to protect their teeth. And for those of you who are worried about dental procedures, sealants are a pain-free treatment.
Follow-Up
After your appointment, you should be able to continue with your day as normal. Remember, sealants are not a substitution for brushing and flossing. Good dental hygiene habits at home will keep your teeth healthy and help your sealant last for years. Brush twice, floss once, and rinse with mouthwash daily for the best results. To protect your sealant, you should try to avoid clenching your teeth and eating sticky foods. When you come in for your annual exam, we’ll check to see if you need new sealants.
If you have any follow up questions, don’t hesitate to call our office, speak with a dental assistant, and get the answers you need. Our team strives to be available, informative, and encouraging at all times. Dental Express exams and procedures bring clients in the door, but our concern and follow up is what keeps them coming back. Your satisfaction is our focus.
Insurance Coverage
Because sealants are a preventive procedure, most dental insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost. After our dentist makes a recommendation, you will meet with a treatment planner who goes over your insurance breakdown. They will check to see if you have a “waiting period” or if you’ve reached your annual maximum. During your meeting with our Dental Express planner, ask questions, get to know your policy, and make sure you’re using your benefits to your advantage. Our team member will talk to your provider to determine your coverage and out-of-pocket costs. At Dental Express, we take full transparency and insurance education very seriously. We want to know that you feel comfortable, understand your decisions, and save as much money as possible. If we can’t find an affordable solution with your insurance, Dental Express takes many different payment methods. And if needed, we can assist you with low-interest financing for medical treatments. We want to provide the best dental care while saving you money at all costs.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants can provide a host of benefits for you or your child’s dental health. By protecting your teeth from decay, bacteria, and plaque, sealants can also protect your wallet. When your teeth are safe from disease, you can avoid expensive treatments like fillings, crowns, and other dental restorations. If you’d like to learn more about this quick and easy dental treatment, contact one of our San Diego offices to book an appointment with one of our expert dentists.
What to Expect
At Dental Express, sealants are a routine procedure:
First, we take a look at your teeth to make sure sealants are right for you.
Second, we cleanse the area of any bacteria, plaque, and tartar.
Third, we apply the sealant with a brush and set it with a special light. You won’t feel the light or have any adverse reaction, and there’s no drilling or
scraping during the sealant process. Once the sealant is in place, your dentist will make sure it’s set properly.
Finally, your dentist will check your bite. We want to make sure that the sealant doesn’t affect your natural alignment. Be honest with your dentist, and they can adjust the sealant to feel most comfortable for you while providing the best protection for your teeth.
Once you go home, you’ll notice that the sealant is there. It will feel new. You may think you’re biting into something, but this is normal. After a few days, you should adjust and no longer notice it. Depending on your oral hygiene, sealants can last for years.
