Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Sealants

Phoenix, Scottsdale and Payson, AZ.

Dental sealants are used to protect the chewing surfaces of back teeth from decay. They are acrylic-like substances which create a barrier against the bacteria which are always in the mouth and always depositing acid excretions on the teeth and gums.

Sealants bond to the tooth enamel and cover all the tiny fissures and pits where bacteria would otherwise settle and thrive. These are the places where over 75 percent of dental decay begins.

How Sealants are Applied

It is a short and painless procedure. First a special solution is applied to the tooth surfaces to prepare the enamel for bonding strongly to the sealant. Then the teeth are rinsed and dried. The sealant is applied and hardened with an ultraviolet light. It may be applied to a single tooth or to many.

At Winterholler Dentistry we use sealants for patients who are particularly vulnerable to tooth decay. We often recommend them for children at the age when the first permanent teeth are starting to appear. A factor in our decision to use a sealant is how the person’s teeth were shaped when they first formed below the gum, before they erupted.

Your dental sealant will last for many years, depending on your chewing pattern. When you come for your check-ups and professional cleaning we will also check the sealant and make sure it has not worn off in any places. Sometimes we will add a new layer of sealant or remove and replace the original sealant. This keeps the barrier against bacteria strong.

Sealant vs. Fluoride

Sealants and fluoride are both ways of protecting and preserving teeth by preventing bacterial decay. They are both effective.

• Sealants are applied topically.
• Fluoride can be ingested in fluoridated water or applied daily in toothpaste. A pregnant woman can begin with fluoride to help give her baby strong teeth, and it can be used through the teen years when cavities can so easily form unless steps are taken to prevent them. Once fluoride is absorbed by the tooth enamel, it is there permanently.

Good Daily Care Still Important

Use of a sealant or fluoride does not mean that daily brushing and flossing are less important. You should brush at least twice a day and floss every day. You will also do your teeth a great service if you eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh food.

We urge you to come twice a year for routine check-ups and professional tooth cleaning. Combined with proper home care and regular dental visits, sealants are extremely effective in preventing tooth decay.

They will also potentially save you a lot of time in a dental chair later on, if your teeth start to require fillings, crowns, or even root canals. Those treatments can all be avoided by good ongoing care of your mouth.

When you have good dental health, cosmetic dentistry can give you its improvements and enhancements, because dental health is the basis for a beautiful smile. You can look at our Smile Gallery for the beautiful results some of our patients have achieved from such cosmetic dentistry procedures as Tooth Whitening and Porcelain Veneers.

Drs. Patrice and Chris Winterholler offer free consultations for new patients. To schedule one, please contact our cosmetic dentistry office today. We serve the areas of Scottsdale, Phoenix and Payson in Arizona and we look forward to meeting with you.