Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are effective, non-invasive treatments aimed at preventing cavities on the chewing surfaces of teeth. The pits and grooves on teeth are prime areas for decay to form, as these intricate structures are hard to access and can be missed even with regular brushing.  The sealants are coatings applied to the chewing surfaces and prevent bacteria and plaque from settling into the deep crevices on teeth.

At Chinook Smiles, we encourage patients with deep grooves and pits on their teeth, especially young children, to consider sealants as a preventive measure to protect their teeth. 

Sealants are applied by first cleaning or polishing the tooth surface. The procedure is followed by “etching” the tooth with a chemical substance, which allows the sealant to better adhere. After the liquid sealant is applied, a special light source is directed to the site to cure or harden it. At this moment we tell our young patients that the “skating rinks” on their teeth are complete and the “sugar bugs” will now slide right off!