Dental Sealants FAQs
What is a sealant?
Sealants are a thin plastic
coaling thal is placed on the
tooth surface to fill the
grooves and pits. The coating
is hardened to protect
lhe toolh surface from
decay. The coating can be
clear, white or slightly
tinted, but is virtually
impossible to see because of
its placement on the back
molars. Sealants are a great
option for the prevention of
dental caries because they
act as a physical barrier to
decay. The protection is
determined by the sealants'
ability to adhere to the tooth.
What is the process
for sealants?
The dentist cleans and rinses
the tooth surface to make
sure that it is free of any
decay. Then a special
cleansing liquid is rubbed on
the tooth and washed away.
Finally, a seal is applied.
Usually on the chewing surface
of the back teeth until it
hardens. The procedure is
pain-free and takes about
five minutes per tooth.
Who is a good
candidate for
sealants?
Anyone who is at high risk
for dental caries should consider
sealants. In general,
children are good candidates
for sealants as long as they
are applied before their teeth
have a chance to decay.
It may be beneficial to
apply sealants to newly
erupted molars (six and twelve year). You should
talk with your general dentist
about sealants if you
have a disability or do not
use fluoridated water. Adults
also can benefit from this
procedure because they have
the same grooves and pits.
Ask your dentist if you are a
good candidate for sealants.
Why should I ask
about sealants?
The chewing surfaces of
children's teeth are susceptible
to decay because children
have a harder time
cleaning the tiny grooves
and pits of certain teeth, and
fluoride is not necessarily as
effective on the teeth in this
area. So although your child
may brush and floss
carefully, food and bacteria
still can build up in the
depressions, leaving a higher
risk for decay.
Other patients also can
benefit from sealant placement,
such as those who
have existing grooves and
pits that are susceptible to
decay.
Are sealants
better than "filling
a cavity"?
Yes, approximately three-quarters
of sealed teeth
remain cavity free, compared to less than one-third
of teeth without sealants.
Plus research has shown that
almost everyone has a 95
percent chance of eventually
experiencing cavities in the
grooves and pits of the teeth.
Sealants can save time, money and discomfort from
more invasive procedures
and help maintain intact
teeth by preventing decay,
which destroys tooth structure.
Some research has
shown that sealants may stop
cavities when placed on top
of a slightly decayed tooth
by sealing off the supply of
nutrients to the bacteria,
which is the cause of caries.
How long do
dental sealants last?
Dental sealants have a very
high success rate and can last
up to 10 years. To receive the
maximum benefit from
sealants, children should continue
practicing good oral
hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing daily.
Diet also can be a factor in
the effectiveness of sealants.
Avoid biting hard objects,
such as hard candies.
Sealants are just one
part of a child's preventive
dentistry program which
should include fluoride,
plaque removal and regular
dental care. Loose or defective
sealants can be replaced
at follow-up appointments.
Your general practitioner
will check to make sure that
the sealants are in place during
your checkups.
Source: Academy of General Denistry;
American Academy of Pediatric
Denistry; Center for Disease Control;
Johns Hopkins Medical Institute; and National Institute of Health.
