Dental Sealants in Portland, OR

Brushing and flossing at least twice a day, is essential for oral health. When cavities form or dentists near you want to prevent cavity development, dental sealants can be an effective treatment. We offer the best application and care recommendations for fillings when you visit Serene Dental in Portland, OR. You’ll get quality dental sealants near you that will improve and maintain the condition of your teeth.

What Dental Sealants Are

Dental sealants are thin coatings painted onto the molars’ chewing surfaces to prevent tooth decay and cavities. Cavities are permanent holes in the teeth. If a cavity is left untreated, it will cause severe pain and infection. Cavities most commonly form in the grooves of the rear teeth. The sealants are effective for years at a time. The sealant keeps teeth from developing cavities. Since the sealants shield the chewing surfaces to prevent food particles and impurities from affecting the tooth, once the sealant is applied, patients will be protected from cavities for about two years, preventing about 80 percent of cavities. Dental sealants can also protect the teeth from cavities up to 50 percent for four years.

The Procedure

Applying a dental sealant is simple and painless. It just takes a few minutes for the Multnomah Village dentist to:

• Thoroughly clean the teeth
• Dry the teeth with cotton or another absorbent material
• Place an acid solution on the teeth to give them a rougher consistency, which helps the sealant to bond to the tooth
• Rinse and dry the teeth
• Paint the sealant on the enamel of the tooth, where it bonds to the tooth and hardens

Who Needs It?

Dental sealants are often used for children to prevent cavities, but this method is unnecessary for all children and doesn’t need to be applied to all the molars. Sealants can also be applied to adult teeth. Because sealants don’t adhere to smooth surfaces, they won’t keep cavities forming between the teeth.

How to Receive Dental Sealants

If you live in or around Portland, OR, and need dental sealants, get in touch with us at Serene Dental. We are now accepting new dental patients, and you can spend your initial appointment consulting with your dentist in SW Portland about sealants and other preventative treatments.