Dental Sealants in Pine Beach, NJ
If your mouth is prone to cavities, Dr. Mariya Medlenov may suggest dental sealants, which act as a shield for your teeth. Our dentist will apply the sealant to your teeth, which will help protect them for years to come!
To learn more about dental sealants in Pine Beach, New Jersey, call Century Dental East at 732-341-6010 to schedule a personal consultation!
A sealant is a preventive dental treatment that our dentist may recommend to protect patients’ teeth from decay. A dental sealant is made of a clear or tooth-colored resin material, which is painted onto the chewing surface of teeth. By blocking out the bacteria and food debris that lead to tooth decay, the sealant prevents decay and cavities. The dental sealant forms a smooth coating over the natural pits and grooves of the tooth surface, which also makes it easier to effectively clean teeth with normal brushing.
Dental sealants are most often recommended for children. They are frequently recommended for the permanent molars as soon as they come in, usually between the ages of 6 and 12 years. We may also recommend dental sealants for adult patients whose teeth are prone to decay or have not been restored or suffered from decay in the past. We can apply dental sealants in just one short, comfortable visit to our practice.
Sealants can be a powerful tool in preventing decay and keeping your smile healthy. To learn more about dental sealants and how our team can keep your smile in good health, we welcome you to call or visit our office today.
What happens when dental sealants are applied
Sealant placement is quick, needs no drilling and no anesthetic, which makes it one of the easiest appointments in dentistry for a nervous child.
The appointment
The tooth is cleaned and dried, then a conditioning gel is applied for a few seconds so the resin will bond to the enamel. After rinsing and drying again, the sealant is painted into the grooves on the chewing surface and set with a curing light. Dr. Medlenov then checks the bite and adjusts anything that feels high. Several teeth can usually be sealed in one short visit, and your child can eat straight afterward.
Why the grooves matter
The chewing surfaces of back teeth have deep pits and fissures that are narrower than a toothbrush bristle. Food and bacteria settle into them and cannot be brushed out reliably, which is why the majority of childhood cavities start there rather than between the teeth. A sealant fills those grooves with a smooth surface that a brush can actually clean.
No drilling. Nothing is removed from the tooth.
No numbing needed. The process is painless.
Quick. Usually a matter of minutes per tooth.
Often paired with other prevention. Sealants sit alongside fluoride treatments and regular cleanings.
Dental sealants compared with fillings
A sealant prevents a cavity. A filling repairs one. The difference in what each involves is significant.
Prevention versus repair
A sealant is added on top of intact enamel and removes nothing. A filling can only be placed after decay has already damaged the tooth, and the damaged tissue has to be cleared away first, which usually means anesthetic and a drill. Once a tooth has been filled, that restoration will need monitoring and eventually replacing over the years. Sealing a groove before decay starts avoids beginning that cycle at all.
What sealants do not do
Sealants protect the chewing surfaces only. They do not protect the areas between teeth, which is where flossing and regular dental exams do the work. They also do not replace brushing or a sensible approach to sugary drinks and snacks. A sealed tooth with poor daily care can still develop decay elsewhere on the same tooth.
Sealants work on healthy teeth. A tooth that already has decay needs treating first.
They are checked, not forgotten. We look at the sealants at every checkup and repair any that have worn.
Cost. Coverage for sealants varies by plan and often depends on the patient's age and which teeth are involved; our team can review this with you before treatment.
How long sealants last and how to look after them
Sealants wear gradually under normal chewing, which is why they are inspected at every visit rather than left indefinitely.
Checking and reapplying
At each checkup we look at the sealed surfaces to see whether the resin is still intact or has chipped or worn thin at the edges. Where a sealant has broken down it can be repaired or replaced in the same straightforward way it was first applied. How long a sealant holds up varies with the bite, the diet and habits like grinding, so the interval is different from patient to patient.
Habits that help them last
Chewing ice, hard candy and sticky sweets are the quickest way to pull a sealant loose. Regular brushing keeps the surrounding enamel healthy so the bond stays sound. For children, the years right after the molars come in are the highest-risk period for decay, so keeping to scheduled visits through that window matters more than at almost any other age. You can see the rest of our preventive care under general and family dentistry.
Keep six-month checkups. Worn sealants are easy to fix when caught early.
Limit sticky sweets. They pull at the resin and feed decay.
Brush and floss daily. Sealants cover one surface, not the whole tooth.
Adults qualify too. Deep grooves and a history of decay make sealants worth discussing at any age.
Ask about dental sealants in Pine Beach
Century Dental East cares for families from Pine Beach, Beachwood, Toms River and across Ocean County at 241 Washington Avenue. If your child's permanent molars have come through, or you have deep grooves and a history of cavities yourself, it is worth asking whether sealants make sense at your next visit.
Call (732) 341-6010 or contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Medlenov.
Visit Our Pine Beach Office
Century Dental East — Gentle, Modern Dentistry for Families in Pine Beach, NJ.
241 Washington Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ 08741
(732) 341-6010
Hours
Mon 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wed 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thu 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun Closed
Serving patients across
- Toms River
- Lakewood
- Lakehurst
- Forked River
- Bayville
- Beachwood
- Pine Beach
- Barnegat Light
- Ocean Gate
- Maple Shade
- Leisure Village
- Cedar Grove
- Waretown
- Howardsville
- Brookville
- Holly Park
- South Toms River