St. Helena Dental Studio is delighted to offer you one of the most effective preventive measures in dentistry today. Dental sealants are a thin coating applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth to help protect them from decay. Our team of dental professionals understands the importance of maintaining excellent oral health, and dental sealant procedures are a great way to achieve that goal. Learn more about this process and how they act as protective shields for teeth. Get in touch with our team.
Dental Sealants in St Helena

How Does the Dental Sealant Treatment Work?

Dental sealants are a type of preventive dental treatment that can be used to protect your teeth. They are usually applied to the back teeth, where cavities are most likely to occur. The sealant is a thin, transparent coating that bonds to the tooth enamel and creates a barrier that prevents bacteria and food particles from getting into the tiny crevices in the teeth. These are most effective when applied to teeth that have not yet developed cavities. However, they can also be used to treat during the early stages of cavities. The sealant will not remove the cavity but will prevent it from getting any larger. Sealants can last many years, but they will eventually need replacement. The exact lifespan of a sealant depends on how well it is cared for and how often it comes into contact with food and drink.

Steps for Dental Sealant at Our Office

Here are the general steps that our dentist may take to provide dental sealants:

  • First, we will clean the teeth thoroughly to remove any food particles or plaque from the surfaces.
  • The teeth that will receive sealants will be isolated with cotton rolls or a dental dam to keep them dry and clean.
  • A solution of acid will be applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth for a few seconds to create a rough surface. This helps the sealant bond better to the tooth.
  • The acid will be rinsed off with water, and the tooth will be dried again.
  • We will apply the sealant material onto the grooves of the teeth's chewing surfaces, ensuring that all the pits and fissures are covered.
  • The sealant will then be cured with a special light that activates the material and hardens it in place.

Once the sealant is hardened, we will ensure it has bonded well to the tooth and is smooth and intact.

All-on-4® Versus Dentures

There are several ways in which All-on-4® implants are better than dentures. Patients take care of All-on-4® implants in the same way they care for their natural teeth by brushing each day. The implants also operate in the same way as natural teeth, so the patient does not have to be cautious of what he or she eats. Along with the fact that patients do not have to remove All-on-4® implants when eating or cleaning the teeth, there is also no need for uncomfortable wires or brackets to hold the implants in place. Even more importantly for patients, the dental implants allow anyone to eat what the heart desires. You do not have to worry about hot or cold affecting your dentures. You also can bite down with up to 70 percent more force, which allows you to eat the foods that you love. Finally, All-on-4® implants look exactly like your natural teeth. No one will be able to tell that you are wearing a dental prosthetic. From a dental health perspective, it is important to note that when you have All-on-4® implants, it is going to prevent bone deterioration in the jawbone and ultimately restore your facial features by fighting resorption. The process of resorption involves the implants stimulating the jaw to send a message to the body that the jaw is supporting teeth once again. Resorption will help the jawbone to regain some of the mass that it has lost previously. Many of our patients who visit our office notice a difference in their facial structure as a result.

Consult Our Dentist for Dental Sealant Procedures

Dental sealants are quick, painless, and non-invasive if you consider visiting our office. It can help protect teeth from decay and cavities for several years. By providing this service, we hope to help our patients avoid needing more extensive dental work in the future. We invite you to learn more about dental sealants and how they can benefit you or your child’s oral health. Call St. Helena Dental Studio and fix your consultation slot.
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The Process of Getting All-on-4® at St. Helena Dental Studio

Typically, the surgery takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes per arch. We can install your All-on-4® implants on your upper, lower, or both arches at the same time. While a dentist may make the process look easy, the surgery is a complex procedure that we can complete at an efficient pace. The process of getting All-on-4® implants can be laid out in four steps:
01.
A detailed examination where we will look at your records, existing conditions, whether you have a denture, what your facial structure needs are, and any other factors that may come into play when placing your implants.
02.
Typically involves CT scans, which are 3D pictures, of the jawbone. The scans include the positions of the replacement teeth, while also giving us critical information about where the bone sinuses and nerves are located for the implants.
03.
Involves creating a computer simulation of the implants, which we digitally position into the jawbone at the appropriate location to give you the most support from your replacement teeth. We can adjust the implants as need be and fabricate your new set of teeth for your needs.
04.
Finally, the most important step is the oral surgery. During surgery, we will provide you with anesthesia and then place the implants directly into your jawbone to secure your new set of teeth in place.