Dr. Katie Warlick  and Dr. Matt Warlick, of Coweta Family Dental, offer dental sealants to patients in Coweta,Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and surrounding areas of Oklahoma. Sealants are small plastic coverings that are used to fill in the grooves in teeth that can’t be reached through normal brushing methods. These surfaces can be hard, or sometimes impossible to brush, so they make perfect places for plaque to build up, causing cavities to grow. Sealants are designed to actively protect teeth from plaque and decay in order to keep teeth perfectly healthy for years. If you constantly brush your teeth but continually go to the dentist suffering from tooth pain, Sealants may be the perfect solution for your problems.

The application of Sealants does not require drilling or any removal of the structure of the tooth. The whole procedure is quick and painless, and it only takes one office visit. After the doctor or a dental hygienist cleans the tooth; a protective gel is placed on the surface for a couple of seconds. This gel makes it able to bond the Sealants properly on the tooth. After the special gel is cleaned off and the tooth is dry, the Sealant is painted on the entire chewing surface of the tooth. The Sealant can either be clear, white, or tinted, and it generally cannot be seen through smiling or casual conversation.

It only takes a short time for the Sealant to create the protective shield around the tooth or teeth, and the sealant can last for as long as 10 years. You may initially feel the Sealant inside, as you can with anything that is newly placed inside of your mouth, but the Sealant is extremely thin. Although Sealants provide protection, it is very important that you still continue to brush, floss, and properly take care of your teeth. Sealants are only one part of the total dental protection of the mouth, so brushing and flossing are still highly recommended. Anyone with grooves or spaces in their teeth that cannot be properly cleaned by brushing can benefit from Sealants. Sealants should be thoroughly checked at every regular dentist appointment, and replaced if no longer applied to the teeth.