For many people, the combination of brushing and flossing may not be enough to stop the development of cavities.
Some people have hard-to-reach spots on their teeth. This can take the form of teeth with grooves and rough spots. Your toothbrush can’t always reach into deep depressions and grooves of your teeth, which can become a food trap, and breeding ground for bacteria.
Sealants are basically a protective barrier against cavities. Not only do sealants keep plaque from getting directly on your teeth, but they also smooth out chewing surfaces of your teeth, making it easier to clean your teeth thoroughly every day.
Who needs dental sealants?
Dentists often recommend sealants to children, but we also recommend them for adults, too. It’s never a bad idea to invest in great oral health.
Sealants are an optional procedure, but they’re a smart option. You might want or need dental sealants if:
- You’ve never had cavities before, and you’d like to keep it that way.
- You’ve struggled with cavities all your life, despite your best efforts.
- You’d rather spend some money up-front on preventative maintenance than on expensive and potentially painful dental procedures down the road.
Don’t worry: Nobody will see the sealant. You probably won’t even feel it, though some people say they can detect it on the tip of their tongue for a little while after their visit.
How are dental sealants applied?
Applying a sealant is quick, easy, and painless.
First, we clean and dry your teeth. (The last thing we want to do is seal the plaque in with your teeth.)
Next, we apply an acidic gel to your teeth. The gel helps roughen up the surface of the teeth, ensuring the sealant material can adhere to each surface. This gel should be painless, though it might taste a little odd.
Then we rinse and dry your teeth again so that we can apply the sealant.
Last, we run a blue light over the teeth in question to make the sealant material solidify.
That’s it. Once we’ve gone through that process, you can enjoy the benefits of your sealants for about ten years before we’ll need to re-apply them. You can walk out of our office with peace-of-mind, knowing you’ve done everything you can do to protect your teeth.
How much do sealants cost?
Sealants typically cost $30 to $60 per tooth.
That may sound like a lot, given that the average adult mouth has 28-32 teeth in it (depending on how many wisdom teeth you’ve got).
But we usually don’t apply sealants to the entire mouth unless you ask us to. Sealants are most effective on your back teeth, namely your molars and premolars. Those teeth are the hardest to reach, and they’re the teeth that tend to have the most grooves. Your front teeth can benefit from sealants, too, but you’re less likely to see cavities in those teeth anyway.
Does dental insurance cover sealants?
Many insurance plans cover sealants. Insurance companies recognize the cost of sealants is still dwarfed by the cost of dealing with cavities, therefore many wisely cover sealants. Contact your insurance company for more information about coverage.
Need Sealants? Visit Pure Dental Arts in Seattle
You can make an appointment to discuss sealants with us. We’ll talk about which teeth need attention, why we think it might be beneficial to seal them, and how much you can expect to pay.
We’re happy to talk with your insurance provider to help you determine your out-of-pocket costs.
Contact Pure Dental Arts in Queen Anne, Seattle, today to discuss sealants.
