Purely the best protection for decay-prone back teeth:

Get to know dental sealants

You deserve purely the best dental care. At Pure Dental Care, good oral health habits are ideally fostered early in childhood. We strive to protect the teeth, gums, and mouth from damage. Cavities represent one of the biggest threats to the health and structure of your teeth. But our team, led by Dr. Nazia Ahmed, has a proactive solution: dental sealants.

Sealants 101

Sealants are a simple and straightforward preventative dentistry service that can have an outsized impact on the health of your (or your child’s) smile. These protective coverings are often associated with pediatric patients because dentists like to place them as soon as decay-prone back teeth erupt. This process starts around the ages of five to seven. However, patients across the age spectrum can benefit, especially if they have developed risks for tooth decay.

Ninety percent of cavities that form arise in the backmost teeth. For one, these teeth can be hard to clean effectively due to their location. Two, the chewing surfaces tend to trap bits of food. The food debris left behind and harmful oral bacteria contribute to the formation of destructive plaque, which releases acids that erode the structure of the teeth. Cavities are lost tooth structure. Instead of treating the effects of the decay process, sealants allow us to prevent the damage from occurring in the first place.

How it’s done

Sealants may be applied quickly and effortlessly during the same appointment as your exam and cleaning (your routine checkup). Dr. Ahmed simply cleans and dries the teeth. An adhesive is then applied to ensure a strong bond between the sealant material and the tooth. The sealant itself is a completely safe, non-toxic, and clear material. Dr. Ahmed paints the sealant as a liquid. It is furthermore hardened with a special light. Once hardened, the sealant is secured and can effectively “seal out’ the bad stuff – plaque, food, and harmful oral bacteria.

Sealants are also completely innocuous; they will not affect your bite and are not uncomfortable to apply or to have in your mouth. Dr. Ahmed will also evaluate the condition of your sealants during routine dental checkups to ensure they are holding up and functioning “as designed.” Properly placed sealants that remain in good condition reduce the risk of decay by around 80 percent.

If you or your child are due for a visit to Pure Dental Care, call (212) - 256-1292. Our office is located in Manhattan, NY (Central Park South).