Sealants

Sealants

Sealants are basically a plastic coating that protects the grooves of the teeth from the bacteria that causes tooth decay. The chewing surface of the molar is first cleaned and then treated chemically so the plastic will bond with the enamel. Then liquid plastic is painted into the fissures and a bright light finishes the process by curing and hardening the plastic.

In most cases, we treat all permanent molars with sealants, as these teeth tend to have the deepest and most vulnerable grooves. The process is best done just after the permanent molars are fully erupted, as long as the child can sit still for the time it takes to complete the procedure. (About 45 minutes for all four 6-year molars.)

Sealants can be placed on vulnerable "baby teeth" but the process is usually too tedious for children under the age of 6. The teeth must be kept absolutely dry for several minutes while placing the sealants, and this is often just too challenging for pre-schoolers.

Adults can have sealants too! If you have molars that have never been treated with fillings, it is a nice preventive move to "seal" the grooves of these teeth. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially in dentistry.