Sealants
What are sealants?
We Create Beautiful and Brighter Smiles
Sealants live up to their name—they seal out harmful bacteria, food debris, and plaque that cause cavities, decay, and gum disease. These thin, safe coatings are applied to the back teeth most prone to decay. Think of them as protective armor that shields your teeth from harmful agents.
The Benefits of Dental Sealants for Cavity Prevention
More than four in 10 third-graders in Illinois have experienced at least one cavity. With proactive professional care at OraSmiles in Hinckley, your child can avoid the pain, damage, and treatment linked to decay. Our dentist, Dr. Shirali Shah, enhances routine checkups with preventive services like dental sealants.
Which back teeth can be treated with sealants?
Sealants are typically applied to the chewing surfaces of the back molars, which are most prone to decay for several reasons:
- They are difficult to reach.
- Due to their position and smaller mouths, they can be especially challenging for children to clean.
- These teeth have unique features—pits, grooves, and fissures that often trap food.
- Trapped food creates an ideal environment for harmful bacteria and plaque to develop.
Without timely and proactive treatment, plaque can lead to progressive tooth decay that erodes tooth structure, ultimately resulting in the holes characteristic of cavities.
How are sealants applied?
Absolutely! At OraSmiles, we prioritize making the experience as comfortable and convenient as possible for you and your family, because you already have enough to manage. This service can easily be included during your child’s exam and cleaning. The process is quick, non-invasive, and painless. After cleaning and drying the teeth, a special solution is applied to help the sealant bond to the tooth.
The sealant is then brushed on as a liquid, allowing it to flow into grooves for optimal protection. Finally, a curing light hardens the coating. The entire procedure takes only minutes and is often fully covered by most dental insurance plans, though coverage may vary.
Are sealants just for kids?
No! This service, which is 80% effective for up to two years, can be an appropriate option for teens and adult patients. The key is really your risk factors.
If you want to learn more about sealants for yourself or a family member, call OraSmiles at (630) 489-6323 today. Serving the greater Plainfield, Aurora, and Naperville area, our team in Bolingbrook, IL, looks forward to speaking with you about the benefits of this super-easy way to stay cavity-free.
When should my child get sealants?
The ideal time is as soon as these teeth emerge. You don’t want to give “bad stuff” any chance to accumulate on these teeth, where nine out of 10 cavities develop. Typically, children begin receiving sealants around age six, when their first adult molars come in.