Let’s talk about dental sealants!

How does a sealant help prevent tooth decay?  A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth – premolars and molars.  This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Thorough brushing and flossing can help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, but a toothbrush cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves of a tooth to clean out the food and plaque.  Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by “sealing out” plaque and food.

Sealants are easy for your dentist or hygienist to apply and it only takes about a minute per tooth.  The teeth that will be sealed are cleaned then the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth.  The sealant is then “painted” onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens.  Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

Sealants are usually recommended for children and teenagers since the likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life.  But, adults can benefit from the protection of sealants as well!