The occlusal (or biting) surfaces of your teeth are critical for your ability to efficiently chew and process food before swallowing. To aid in this endeavor, many people have sharp textures and recesses on the biting surfaces on the molars and premolars in the back of the mouth.
Sometimes these textures in the tooth enamel can be so deep that they trap stray food matter and bacterial deposits. If these hard-to-reach places are not effectively cleaned during your twice-daily brushing, it can create large cavities on the occlusal surfaces of your back teeth.
One effective way to prevent this from happening is to have dental sealants applied to these teeth after your routine dental cleaning exam at Steven J. Brazis, DDS. This is a durable, plastic resin your dentist carefully paints onto the biting surfaces of your molars and premolars. They will then use a special ultraviolet light to harden the resin.
This creates an impermeable barrier between any bacterial-rich matter and the healthy tooth enamel. Even with brushing twice a day, they could last up to 10 years.
If you live in the Sacramento, California, area and you are concerned about preserving the health of your teeth, you should call 916-731-5151 to schedule a dental exam with sealants with Dr. Steven J. Brazis.
