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Palm Desert, California

Dental Sealants Can Reduce Your Chances of Suffering Tooth Decay on a Back Tooth

By Periodontics of the desert team

The teeth in the back of your mouth tend to be large and they play a variety of roles. Molars help chew and efficiently grind tough foods while premolars work in tandem with the front teeth to also help bite off hard foods while assisting molars. These teeth have the ability to do this thanks to the sharp angles and deep textures along their biting surfaces.

Yet there is a potential drawback to this sharp occlusal tooth enamel. Sometimes the deep pits and fissures that make the teeth efficient for their given tasks can also trap food and plaque deep in the tooth enamel. If these hard-to-reach places are not cleaned by your twice-daily brushing efforts, large cavities could start to form.

Should Dr. Peter Warshawsky notice a problem like this during your regular dental exam at Periodontics of the Desert, they might offer a preventative measure. This could involve thoroughly cleaning the deep recesses of the occlusal tooth enamel before applying dental sealants.

Once the teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, Dr. Peter Warshawsky will carefully paint a dental-grade resin onto the biting surfaces of your molars and premolars. Afterward, they will use a special ultraviolet light to cure and harden the sealants onto your teeth.

Dental sealants are very durable and you can expect them to protect the biting surfaces of the tooth enamel for many years. Even with this added protection, you will still need to brush and floss your back teeth to maintain the health of the areas that have not protected by dental sealants.

If you live in Palm Desert, California, area and you are concerned about the health of your back teeth, you should call 760-674-4410 to schedule a dental exam at Periodontics of the Desert.