Dental Sealants in Clifton, NJ

At Marvel Dental Practice, we understand the importance of preventive care in maintaining a healthy, vibrant smile. One highly effective preventive treatment we offer is the application of dental sealants.

Dental sealants are thin protective coatings carefully applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth—primarily molars and premolars—to help prevent tooth decay. Our friendly and highly trained dental professionals make this process straightforward, comfortable, and entirely painless.

Here’s how our expert dental professionals apply dental sealants:

• Initial Cleaning: Our dental team will meticulously clean the tooth surfaces, removing any plaque or debris from the grooves and pits of your teeth. Proper cleaning is essential, as it ensures the sealant adheres effectively.

• Dry and Isolate Teeth: The teeth are carefully dried and isolated to ensure saliva doesn’t interfere with the procedure. After, we place a soft cotton material or absorbent barrier around them to maintain dryness during the procedure.

• Apply Acidic Solution: An acidic solution is gently applied to the teeth for a brief moment to slightly roughen the surface, ensuring the sealants bond securely. This is called an etching gel and it is applied to the tooth surface. This harmless gel creates microscopic pores and grooves in the tooth enamel, allowing the sealant to bond securely.

• Rinse and Dry Teeth Again: We rinse away the etching gel and dry your teeth thoroughly once more. Our dentist or hygienist will then precisely paint the protective sealant onto the tooth’s surface, allowing it to flow into all the tiny grooves and pits. This creates a smooth, protective barrier that shields your teeth from harmful bacteria and prevents tooth decay.

• Apply Curing Light: A specialized curing light is used to quickly harden the sealant, creating a strong, invisible shield over your teeth for long-lasting protection. 

Finally, our dentist evaluates the placement of the dental sealants, checks your bite, and makes any necessary adjustments for maximum comfort. The entire process is quick, taking only a few minutes per tooth, and you can resume your normal activities immediately afterward.

At Marvel Dental Practice, we strongly believe prevention is the key to a lifetime of excellent oral health. Regular dental visits allow our caring team to monitor your sealants and determine if any touch-ups or reapplications are needed.

We understand that navigating dental insurance coverage for treatments like dental sealants can sometimes be confusing. Dental sealants are typically considered a preventive treatment, and many insurance providers cover all or part of their cost. However, coverage details—such as age limits, eligible teeth, and frequency of application—can vary significantly depending on your individual insurance policy and provider.

For instance, some insurance plans may limit coverage of sealants specifically to permanent molars in younger patients, while others offer coverage for adults who may be at increased risk of tooth decay. To help simplify this process, our friendly and experienced team at Marvel Dental Practice is happy to assist you in verifying your insurance benefits. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly or allowing our office staff to help clarify the extent of your sealant coverage under your dental plan. Your oral health and comfort are our top priorities—we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

At Marvel Dental Practice, we are committed to ensuring your smile receives the best possible care. After receiving dental sealants at our practice, we typically recommend waiting approximately 30 minutes to one hour before eating or drinking. This short waiting period allows the sealant material to fully harden and effectively bond to your tooth surface, ensuring optimal protection against cavities.

Once your sealants have fully set, you can safely resume your normal eating and drinking habits. However, for the rest of the day following your treatment; please avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods. This will help preserve the integrity of the sealant material, protecting your teeth for longer.

Our Marvel Dental Practice team will provide personalized recommendations tailored specifically to your treatment. Please always follow your dentist’s advice closely, and if you have any questions or concerns about your dental sealants, feel free to contact us directly. We’re here to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, marvelous smile! For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1113 Main Avenue, Suite A, Clifton, NJ 07011. We serve patients from Clifton NJ, Passaic NJ, Woodland Park NJ, Nutley NJ, Garfield NJ, Fairfield NJ, and BEYOND!