Smile Gallery: Dental Exams and Teeth Cleanings

One of our adult patients noticed she was frequently getting food caught on the chewing surfaces of several molars and was worried about getting a cavity on her teeth. We recommended a sealant to help protect the pits and grooves of her molars and prevent her from developing a cavity. 

No anesthetic was required and the procedure took less than 10 minutes at a routine checkup and professional cleaning.

While Dr. Appel applied the sealants for this patient, all of our clinical staff are trained to provide quality, long lasting sealants that can minimize the risk of developing a cavity in the ...

Cavities often can be found in the pits and grooves of our molars. They can appear chalky white or shades of brown. The texture of the cavities is often soft, sticky, or sometimes mushy. When the doctor is checking for cavities they use an instrument called an explorer to feel the texture of the pits and grooves. If the explorer "sticks" or "catches" in a pit or groove and the groove appears discolored, then it likely has a cavity. Often a sealant can be placed as a preventative measure to protect the healthy pits and grooves of the teeth.