How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

One of the first dental treatments many patients have will be the application of tooth sealant. Dental sealants provide teeth with exceptional protection against decay and wear. Patients often report surprise at how quickly the sealant is applied and how comfortable it proves to be. Still, before treatment, patients may wonder: how are dental sealants applied?

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

A dentist can apply dental sealant in as few as five core steps. Most notably missing from the list is any anesthetic or drilling. Expect a pain-free treatment that protects your teeth and your smile.

Step 1: Cleaning the Tooth

Sealing off a tooth from decay will hardly help if it seals in bacteria. We use a special cleaning toothpaste to remove any lingering buildup on the tooth. We take extra care with kids to ensure a comfortable process. This initial cleaning is a necessary part of preparation for dental sealant application.

Step 2: Roughing Up the Tooth

Despite the name of this step, it is incredibly gentle. We apply a gentle acidic solution to etch the tooth. When we say acidic, we want to emphasize this solution does not hurt or damage the tooth.

This etching solution only creates a surface more suited to adhere to the sealant. The sealant will better bond with the rougher surface of the tooth for stable results.

Step 3: Rinse

With the tooth roughed up, we want to clear away anything lingering on the tooth again. We thoroughly rinse out the etching solution. Then we let the tooth dry. For this part, think of painting a wall. Trying to paint a wet wall certainly will not help the paint stick. A dry tooth ensures that the sealant can make direct and lasting contact with the tooth surface.

Step 4: Applying the Sealant

Finally, we arrive at the actual sealant. The sealant starts as a thin liquid coating that we spread evenly over the targeted parts of the tooth. Again, the process involves no pain or drilling. Your dentist will take care to ensure they cover each part of the tooth.

Step 5: Curing the Sealant

A liquid layer over a tooth will not last long. To return to the paint metaphor, you only finish painting a room once the paint dries. With paint, you have no choice but to sit and wait. With sealants, we fast-track the drying with a special curing process.

Again, this step involves nothing troublesome. We can harden the sealant material using only a special light. The materials in the sealant react to the light by hardening rapidly. As the sealant hardens, your dentist can make minor adjustments to the sealant shape to ensure a good fit.

How Long Does the Application Take?

We have established that applying sealants requires no pain or drilling. What is even better is that it is quick. An experienced dentist will spend only a few minutes with each tooth. That means your kid will not have to sit through a long, tortuous treatment, and you can get back to your day.

A Gentle Treatment Ideal for Kids

While a child will lose all their baby teeth, they still need to maintain oral health. Early tooth decay can lead to lasting oral health issues. Additionally, a child whose first dental treatment is a filling may develop persistent dental anxiety. While this will not always happen, we have seen it often enough.

Dental sealants offer a smooth transition into other dental treatments for children. When applying dental sealants to a child’s tooth, we use no drills or other potentially frightening tools. Even kids need no numbing for the treatment.

When to Start Applying Dental Sealants

With this quick procedure, your kid can feel in control of their oral health. Of course, we do not consider the treatment obligatory for younger kids who are not at risk for cavities. Sealants can prove helpful even for kids showing signs of decay, even for baby teeth. Still, we recommend that all kids have sealants at two points in childhood. 

• First sealants around age 6 for their first set of permanent molars
• Second sealants once their second molars come in at around age 12

Dental Sealants for All Ages

Choosing to have dental sealants can give your or your child’s teeth a significant advantage. Make a quick call to your local dentist to set up your appointment and give your teeth a head start.