Preventive Care · Panorama City, CA
Dental Sealants in Panorama City, CA
Dental sealants in Panorama City are a simple, painless way to prevent cavities in the back teeth, where food and bacteria get trapped most easily. At Van Nuys Panorama Dental Center, we place sealants for kids, teens and adults.
How sealants work
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin protective coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They seal the deep grooves where food and bacteria collect. Dental sealants in Panorama City take only a few minutes per tooth and don't require numbing or drilling.
Think of sealants as raincoats for your teeth. The molars and premolars have deep pits and grooves that are hard to clean, even with careful brushing. A toothbrush bristle can be too wide to reach the bottom of those grooves, so plaque settles in and decay can start.
Sealants are made of a tooth-colored or clear material that bonds to the enamel. They don't change how the teeth look or feel once your bite settles, and most people forget they're there.
A sealant fills in those grooves and creates a smooth surface that's easier to keep clean. The CDC reports that sealants prevent most cavities in back teeth for the first few years after they're placed, and they keep protecting for years after that.
At a glance
Sealants at a glance
- Best for
- Children ages 6–12 as molars come in, and adults with deep grooves
- Time
- A few minutes per tooth
- Comfort
- No numbing or drilling needed
- How long they last
- Several years, and we check them at every visit
- After the visit
- Eat and drink normally right away
Good candidates
Who needs dental sealants?
Sealants work best on healthy back teeth with no fillings, so the sooner they're placed, the better. They're often a good fit for:
- 01Children getting their first permanent molars, usually around age 6
- 02Children and teens getting their second molars, usually around age 12
- 03Kids with deep grooves in their baby molars
- 04Adults with deep grooves and no decay or fillings on the chewing surfaces
- 05Anyone with a higher risk of cavities, such as frequent snacking or dry mouth
- 06Patients with braces, who may find back teeth harder to clean
At your checkup, we'll look at the shape of your teeth and your cavity history to see whether sealants make sense for you or your child.
The procedure
What to expect during the sealant procedure
Getting sealants is quick and comfortable. Most kids are surprised by how easy it is.
- 01
Clean and dry
We clean the chewing surfaces of the teeth, then dry them thoroughly and keep them dry with cotton or a small isolator.
- 02
Prepare
A gentle gel is applied for a few seconds to help the sealant bond, then rinsed off and the teeth are dried again.
- 03
Paint and cure
The sealant is brushed into the grooves and hardened with a special curing light. It sets in seconds.
- 04
Check the bite
We check your bite and make any small adjustments. You can eat and drink normally right away.
Can sealants be applied over cavities?
In some cases, yes. Sealants can be placed over the earliest signs of decay, before a hole forms, to help stop the damage and preserve tooth structure. A tooth with an active cavity usually needs a filling first, and we'll let you know which option is right.
Clear sealants also let your dental team keep an eye on those areas over time. If a cavity has already formed, we may recommend a tooth-colored composite filling instead.
Insurance and payment
Are dental sealants covered by insurance?
Many dental insurance plans cover sealants for children, often on permanent molars up to a certain age. Coverage for adults varies more from plan to plan. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment, so you'll know what's covered and whether there's any cost to you.
We accept a wide range of dental insurance plans, as well as cash, checks and all major credit cards. Financing is available through CareCredit, Cherry and Alphaeon, including monthly plans for lower credit scores. Learn more on our Patient Info page.
Visit us
Why choose us for dental sealants in Panorama City?
Van Nuys Panorama Dental Center is at 8227 Van Nuys Blvd in Panorama City, CA. Dr. Zack and Dr. Naziri welcome new patients, and we often see families from Van Nuys and Sun Valley.
Sealants pair well with fluoride treatments and routine preventive dental care. Call (818) 989-3074 or book an appointment online.
Questions
Dental sealant questions
Are there side effects?
Sealants are safe for nearly everyone. Aside from rare allergies, they have no known side effects. Your bite may feel slightly different for a day or two, but that usually goes away on its own. If anything feels high when you bite down, call us and we'll adjust it.
Do sealants contain BPA?
Some sealants contain trace amounts of BPA, but the level is extremely low, far less than your exposure from everyday items like receipts or cosmetics. Leading dental health organizations consider sealants safe, and their benefit in preventing cavities outweighs this very small exposure.
How long do sealants last?
With proper care, sealants can last several years. Over time they can chip or wear, so we check them at your routine checkups. If one is worn or missing, we can repair or reapply it quickly, usually in the same visit.
Are sealants covered by insurance?
Many dental insurance plans cover sealants, especially for children's permanent molars. Coverage for adults depends on your plan. Call us at (818) 989-3074, and our team will verify your benefits before your appointment.
Do kids still need to brush with sealants?
Yes. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of back teeth, but not the sides or the spaces between teeth. Children still need to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and keep up with regular checkups to stay cavity-free.
Does getting sealants hurt?
No. There's no drilling, no shots and no numbing. The sealant is simply painted onto the tooth and hardened with a light. Most children sit through it easily, and the whole visit for sealants usually takes well under an hour.
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