Dental sealants protect teeth by sealing the deep grooves and crevices. Sealants are flowable (liquid-like) composite resin materials that are placed onto the surface with pits and fissures. But you can’t rely on sealants to prevent the decay process altogether.

Sealants are placed routinely in the teeth of young children and adolescents to get them through the years when they are still trying to master the techniques of brushing and flossing. It is expected that they have developed enough dexterity by the time they turn 18. By then most of those sealants chip off, because those are not meant to be as strong and permanent as fillings. These are mostly preventive to get you through the first few years. Sealants are also very technique sensitive. If the teeth are not properly cleaned and isolated at the time of the placement, there will be ineffective bonding. That will result in leakage under the sealants. In such instances your sealants can fail due to progressive decay underneath. Later most of those teeth usually need to be restored with fillings.

Note:

If you still choose to get sealants, try to get the transparent (clear) type so that you can see through it to determine if you’re getting any cavity. The opaque sealants do not provide you with that advantage.

Some adults do need dental sealants due to high risk of decaying of teeth. That determination has to be done by the dentist.

Some facts about sealants:

1. The retention and success of the fissure sealants is usually better on premolars than molars both in the 1st and in the 2nd year. A single application of the fissure sealants was effective in reducing fissure caries up to 2 years. Research shows that there is only about 5.7% failure rate in 10 years.

2. Sealants should be placed in the grooves and pits of the molars and premolars soon after complete eruption

3. Sealants can be applied to deciduous teeth that have deep grooves and pits during childhood

4. Molars benefit the most from the placement of sealants.

5. Sealants are more beneficial for people with high caries risk, poor oral hygiene, e.g., mentally handicapped children.

6. Sealants prevent decay because the coatings keep bacteria and food debris from entering into the pits and fissures of the teeth.

7. The majority of cavities in children have been observed in pits and fissures. Sealants can prevent these types of lesions.

8. Sealants can last many years, if done the right way. If a sealant becomes worn, more sealant material can be applied on top of it.

9. Sealing a healthy tooth is more cost effective than restoring carious teeth that are at moderate or high risk

10.In conjunction with topical and systemic fluorides, sealants provide for the maximum protection against decay.

11.Research has found dental sealants to be safe and highly effective.

12.Utilization of dental sealants should be based on risk factors of the patient and the inpidual tooth.

13.It sets within 10-20 seconds.

14.No mixing is required. This decreases the chance of incorporating air bubbles into the material.

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