Protect Your Family’s Smiles at Fox View Dental 

Maintaining excellent oral health is the foundation of a beautiful, confident smile. At Fox View Dental, Dr. Chad Yenchesky believes in the power of prevention to protect your family’s teeth for years to come. Dental sealants represent one of the most effective preventive dental treatments available, creating a protective shield against tooth decay in the areas where cavities are most likely to develop.

These thin, protective coatings act as barriers against harmful bacteria and food particles that can become trapped in the deep grooves and pits of your teeth. The dental materials used for sealants are safe and effective for cavity prevention. Dr. Chad Yenchesky and our experienced dental team in De Pere have helped countless families throughout the Green Bay area protect their smiles with this simple yet highly effective treatment.

To learn more about how dental sealants can protect your family’s teeth and to schedule your consultation, call Fox View Dental today at (920) 336-4201.

The Fox View Dental Difference: Personalized Dental Care Near Green Bay

At Fox View Dental, we understand that every smile is unique. That’s why we take a personalized approach to fluoride treatments:

• Comprehensive Evaluation: Before recommending fluoride treatments, we conduct a thorough assessment of your oral health, considering factors such as your cavity risk, dietary habits, and overall health.
• Custom Treatment Plans: Based on our evaluation, we create a tailored fluoride treatment plan that addresses your specific needs and goals.
• Advanced Dental Technology: We utilize state-of-the-art dental technology to ensure precise and effective fluoride applications.
• Patient Education: Our team takes the time to educate you about the benefits of fluoride and how to maintain your oral health between treatments.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are ultra-thin protective coatings that Dr. Chad Yenchesky applies to the chewing surfaces of back teeth, creating a smooth barrier that prevents decay-causing bacteria from settling into the natural grooves and fissures. 

Dental sealants are applied to the occlusal surfaces of molars and premolars, which are the primary chewing surfaces at risk for dental caries. The back teeth, particularly molars and premolars, have complex surfaces with numerous pits and valleys that can be difficult to clean thoroughly with regular brushing and flossing alone. Sealants work by acting as a physical barrier, blocking cavities and preventing bacteria and food debris from entering the fissures and grooves, which helps prevent caries and dental caries.

The sealant material bonds directly to the tooth enamel, forming a protective shell that can withstand normal chewing forces while providing years of reliable protection. This protective layer helps prevent caries and dental caries by shielding the chewing surface from bacteria and acids. At our De Pere practice, we use only the highest quality sealant materials to provide long-lasting protection for patients of all ages.

Types of Dental Sealants Available

Resin-Based Sealants

The most commonly used sealants are resin-based materials that offer excellent durability and aesthetic appeal. Their tooth-colored appearance makes them virtually invisible while providing superior protection.

Before application, the tooth surface is prepared using acid etching, which creates etched enamel to enhance the adhesion of the resin. The acid etch process is a crucial step in ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of resin-based sealants. Your dentist applies these liquid resin sealants, which flow easily into grooves and fissures before being hardened with a special blue light. 

Glass Ionomer Sealants

For certain patients, your dentist may recommend glass ionomer sealants, which combine acrylic and glass materials to create a durable protective coating. These sealants offer the added benefit of slowly releasing fluoride over time, providing ongoing protection and helping to strengthen tooth enamel from within.

Compomer Sealants

Compomer sealants represent an advanced hybrid technology that combines the best features of composite resin and glass ionomer materials. Your dentist may select these sealants when patients need maximum aesthetic appeal combined with long-term durability and fluoride release.

Find out which dental sealants are available at Fox View Dental by calling (920) 336-4201 to learn more!

Benefits of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants offer numerous advantages that make them one of the most cost-effective preventive treatments available:

• Cavity Prevention: Create a protective barrier on chewing surfaces, preventing food particles and bacteria from settling into pits and fissures, reducing cavity risk by up to 80%. Dental sealants are an effective way to prevent cavities, especially in hard-to-reach grooves of molars.
• Cost-Effective Protection: Significantly less expensive than treating cavities with fillings, crowns, or root canals, making them an excellent investment in long-term oral health. By helping to prevent cavities, dental sealants can greatly reduce overall dental treatment costs.
• Pain-Free Application: Completely painless and non-invasive procedure requiring no drilling, injections, or removal of healthy tooth structure. The application is a simple and painless process that takes only a few minutes and requires no anesthesia.
• Long-Lasting Results: Provide continuous protection for several years, with many sealants lasting 5-10 years or longer with proper care. Regular checkups can identify any damaged sealants, which can be repaired or replaced to maintain their protective benefits.
• Improved Oral Hygiene: Create smoother tooth surfaces that are easier to clean through regular brushing, promoting better oral hygiene practices.
• Quick and Convenient: Can often be applied to multiple teeth during a single visit to our De Pere office, making treatment convenient for busy families.
• Reduced Dental Anxiety: Helps prevent the need for more invasive treatments, making future dental visits more comfortable for patients of all ages.

Dr. Chad Yenchesky often explains to patients that investing in sealants is like buying insurance for their teeth, providing years of protection for a relatively small upfront cost. This preventive approach aligns perfectly with our philosophy at Fox View Dental, where we focus on helping patients maintain healthy, beautiful smiles through proactive care. Both children and adults can benefit from sealants to keep their teeth healthy and prevent cavities.

The Dental Sealant Application Process

Dr. Chad Yenchesky follows a precise, systematic approach to sealant application that ensures optimal performance and longevity:

1. Initial Cleaning: Thorough cleaning of the teeth to be sealed, removing any plaque, food particles, or bacteria from the surface grooves and fissures
2. Tooth Preparation: Teeth are carefully dried and isolated from moisture using cotton rolls, specialized isolation techniques, or a rubber dam to maintain a completely dry environment and prevent salivary contamination during the process of applying sealants.
3. Surface Conditioning: The tooth surface is gently etched with a mild conditioning solution that creates microscopic pores in the enamel for better bonding. Proper etching results in a chalky appearance on the enamel, indicating readiness for sealant placement. If this chalky appearance is not observed, the etching process may need to be repeated.
4. Rinsing and Drying: The conditioning solution is rinsed away, and teeth are thoroughly dried again to prepare for sealant application.
5. Sealant Application: Dr. Yenchesky applies the liquid sealant material, which flows into all the grooves and fissures of the tooth surface. Placing sealants involves sealing pits and fissures to protect against decay, creating a protective barrier that helps prevent cavities.
6. Light Curing: The sealant is hardened using a special curing light, creating a durable protective coating in just seconds.
7. Final Adjustments: Dr. Chad Yenchesky checks the bite and removes any excess material to create a smooth, comfortable surface

The entire process typically takes just a few minutes per tooth and can often be completed for multiple teeth during a single appointment at our De Pere dentist’s office.

Who Can Benefit from Dental Sealants?

Dr. Chad Yenchesky may recommend dental sealants for various patients who can benefit from this preventive protection:

• Children and Teenagers: Most commonly applied as permanent molars and premolars emerge, typically around ages six and 12, providing protection during peak cavity-risk years. Sealants are typically placed on the first molars soon after they erupt around age six, and on the second molars around age 12, to protect these permanent teeth from decay.
• Adults with Deep Fissures: Adults who have deep pits and grooves in their back teeth that are difficult to clean effectively with regular brushing and flossing
• High Cavity Risk Patients: Individuals with a history of tooth decay, poor oral hygiene habits, diets high in sugary foods, or conditions that reduce saliva production
• Orthodontic Patients: Those with braces or other appliances who may find it challenging to clean around brackets and wires during treatment
• Special Needs Individuals: Patients with developmental or cognitive disabilities who may have difficulty maintaining optimal oral hygiene routines
• Dental Anxiety Patients: Individuals who prefer preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of needing more invasive dental treatments in the future

In pediatric dentistry, applying sealants to permanent teeth—especially first and second molars—is a recommended preventive measure. Studies show that, when molars are compared, unprotected molars have a significantly higher risk of cavities than those that have been sealed.

To determine if you or your family members are good candidates for dental sealants, Dr. Yenchesky will evaluate your individual oral health status, cavity risk factors, and specific tooth characteristics during your consultation at our De Pere office.

Cost and Insurance Coverage for Dental Sealants

Dental sealants represent one of the most affordable preventive treatments available, typically costing between $30 and $60 per tooth, depending on various factors. The total investment varies based on the number of teeth being sealed, the type of sealant material used, and your geographic location within the Green Bay area.

Many dental plans cover sealants for children and teenagers, and most dental plans recognize the preventive value and cover sealants as part of routine care. Many dental insurance plans recognize the value of preventive care and provide coverage for sealants, particularly for children and teenagers. Dr. Chad Yenchesky’s team will work with your insurance provider to maximize your benefits and help make this important preventive treatment accessible for your family.

Weighing the Costs of Dental Sealants

When compared to the cost of treating cavities, sealants offer exceptional value. A single dental filling can cost several times more than a sealant, while more extensive treatments like crowns or root canals can cost ten times more or greater. This makes sealants one of the smartest investments you can make in your family’s oral health.

Frequently Asked Questions