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Dental Sealants in Raleigh, NC

Dental sealants are used in dental offices every day. They are one of the most common treatments performed. Sealants help prevent decay from occurring on the chewing surfaces of teeth, especially on young children who have not yet mastered the art of brushing their teeth.

Dental sealants have been around for nearly 50 years and became popular in the 1970s as a method of preventing cavities from forming. Sealants are often applied to the back teeth, or molars because that is where people typically have a hard time brushing and flossing correctly.  These teeth also have deep crevices where food gets trapped.

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Renaissance Dental Center is located in Raleigh, NC but graciously provide comprehensive Dental Services to all surrounding areas including Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, and Garner.

Diagnodent

Dentists rely on many examination methods to determine the presence of tooth decay in a patient's mouth. X-rays are one of the most common methods of finding hidden tooth decay, as well as visual examination for larger areas of decay. Diagnodent is a laser product that is being used in many dental clinics today.

Diagnodent uses fluorescent laser light to find hidden tooth decay, even in early stages of development. This means that dentists can discover and treat tooth decay faster and easier than ever before.

When teeth can be treated early, the risk of losing the tooth due to decay is reduced. Many people lose teeth to undetected tooth decay, and it can be devastating to have to have a tooth extracted because of a problem you didn't even know about in the first place.

Diagnodent technology is saving patients time, money, and above all else, their teeth. With over 90% accuracy, the chances of finding hidden dental decay are greatly increased, and that is comforting for patients to know.

How Diagnodent Works

The Diagnodent laser system is simple and easy to use. It takes only a few seconds to determine the presence of decay in the mouth of a patient. Using a small device, your dentist will aim the laser at your teeth, and the amount of light that is reflected back determines the presence of decay. Diagnodent is used for patients of any age, and it is safe for everyone involved. Once decay has been detected, our dentists can treat the decay with sealants or fillings in order to prevent further decay from occurring.

For more information, just ask us about dental sealants during your visit!

Renaissance Dentists Posing together

More Information on Sealants

Drs. Abernethy, Sonner & Wells share a joined passion for only the highest quality of dentistry on your journey towards optimal oral health.

Dental sealants are liquid resin coatings that are placed on the surface of the teeth to prevent decay. When applied they harden on the teeth to protect them. Sealants have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cavities.

Dental sealants can last several years and protect the teeth. They are usually white, or clear, and are very hard to see once teeth are treated. This means that there are no unsightly finishes!

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Dental Sealants and Children

Even the most well-intentioned parent can't stop cavities from forming in their children's teeth. Because brushing a young child's teeth is often quite difficult, they are more susceptible to cavity-causing bacteria hiding in places toothbrushes can't reach. Also, it is difficult for parents, and even older children, to floss their teeth properly, which leads to more chance of decay.

Many children have sealants applied to their teeth to protect their primary or baby, teeth while they wait for them to fall out to avoid having to place a more traditional filling in a child's mouth. Sealants are also used on children's permanent teeth as they erupt in the mouth to protect the teeth from decay.

Once the tooth is entirely in place, fillings might be necessary to treat any decay that has occurred while the teeth were erupting. Sealants are very useful in preventing the need for further fillings though, so opting to have teeth "sealed" early on is a good idea.

Dental Sealant Aftercare

Once sealants have been applied to your teeth, or your children's teeth, they look and act just like your regular teeth. They don't require any special care or toothpaste, but it is important to watch for signs of wearing over time to prevent decay from occurring or spreading.

Regular visits to your dentist will help keep an eye on how the sealants are holding up, and of course, proper brushing and flossing technique will prevent further decay from developing or spreading. If you notice any issues developing with your dental sealants, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. Fixing the worn or damaged sealant decreases the risk of further decay.

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Application of Sealants

The sealants protect the enamel of the teeth. The coating is applied on the surface of the tooth, and it hardens very quickly. Sometimes, our dentist will use a light that will make the sealant harden faster than waiting for it to try, making the sealant ready almost instantly. This process involves no pain, no discomfort, and smaller children don't even realize they are having the procedure done because it's so fast and easy.

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Costs and Insurance

In most cases, sealants are covered by dental health insurance plans. If you are unsure, contact our office to discuss your coverage options. Our office can also check our electronic billing system to see if your insurance covers the procedure.

Detecting Tooth Decay

Dentists perform dental examinations on every patient they see. This is often a quick and easy process that involves a simple visual inspection, review of x-ray films, and discussions about your oral health since the last time you were in the office.

MEET YOUR RENAISSANCE ARTISTS
anna
Meet Dr. Abernethy

Anna Abernethy, DDS

Dr. Abernethy grew up in Concord, North Carolina, however, she has called Raleigh "home" for the past 20 years. She came to Raleigh to attend college and graduated from Meredith College Magna Cum Laude in 2001 with a BS in biology and a minor in chemical physics.

jill
Meet Dr. Sonner

Jill Sonner, DDS

Dr. Sonner was born and raised in Raleigh NC, and she attended both UNC Wilmington and North Carolina State University. She received her undergraduate degree from NCSU in 1999 with high honors, obtaining a BS in Biological Sciences. During college she supported research staff at NIEHS and performed an independent study focusing on Diabetes.

Anita_Wells
Meet Dr. Wells

Anita Jones Wells, DDS

Dr. Wells is a North Carolina native who grew up in the Pinehurst area and has spent the past 10 years studying and practicing dentistry in Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she completed both her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Doctor of Dental Surgery, graduating with honors.

SOME OF OUR SERVICES OFFERED

General Dentistry

We each enjoy doing a broad range of procedures. This allows us to provide many services in-house rather than referring patients out as much as possible. From simple tooth colored fillings to surgical procedures, we enjoy offering a range of options for our patients.

Cosmetic Dentistry

We have all devoted many hours to advanced training under the direction of Frank Spear who is world renowned for cosmetic repair of the most worn or severely damaged teeth. We appreciate the impact a beautiful attractive smile has on one’s self confidence and can deliver remarkable cosmetic results for people needing a various degrees of smile design.

Dental Implants

We have each received our implant fellowship with the International Dental Implant Association under the direction of Oral Surgeon Dr. Garg and have been placing dental implants since 2005. Implants are a rehabilitative option for patients needing to replace missing teeth or anchor dentures.

Dental Grafting

We offer a minimally invasive alternative option for covering exposed roots caused by recession that does not involve extensive roof of the mouth grafting, called the Gumdrop Technique.

Sedation Dentistry

Dental procedures can be often overwhelming due to phobia, and needed appointments to the dental office are often delayed or even avoided entirely. Our office offers multiple levels of sedation to make sure you're visiting as often as suggested.

Dental Crowns

Your smile may become damaged, decayed, or need cosmetic repair and jeopardizing your oral health. Dental crowns are the perfect solution for such patients. Restore your teeth back to a beautiful and healthy shine.

Porcelain Veneers

Sometimes aspects of your teeth cannot be changed as easily. In these cases, to get the healthy cosmetic smile you're looking for porcelain veneers are the perfect solution.

CEREC & CAD/CAM

We have been using digital impressions and 3D printing since 2010. This technique allows us to eliminate many steps that commonly amount to error. Computer aided design allows us to make and deliver restorations in the same visit preventing additional appointments and taking advantage of the patient being numbed only one time.

Teeth Whitening

In today’s world, white teeth are the norm and if yours are yellow or discolored it affects your self confidence. Something as simple as whitening can drastically change your appeal. In the past most of the whitening options caused tooth sensitivity. We offer an array of choices that are tailored to avoid sensitivity while giving you the best outcome.

Laser Therapies

We all hate those dreadful fever blisters. Did you know if you laser them when you feel that very first tingle they won’t erupt? Suffer no more from unsightly sores, we offer this as quick and painless option.