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What are tooth sealants?A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth - premolars and molars. The plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.Why aren't sealants used on all teeth?Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from the smooth surfaces of the tooth. The pits and fissures are places that are extremely difficult to clean. Toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque. The normal flow of saliva, which helps clean food particles from other areas of the mouth, cannot keep the pits and fissures clean. So they are places that are especially prone to decay. In fact, most cavities form in pit and fissure areas, and permanent molars are extremely susceptible to this form of decay.How are sealants applied?Sealants are easy to apply and only take a few minutes to seal each tooth. The teeth that will be sealed are cleaned. Then the chewing surfaces are conditioned to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then painted into the pits and fissures and is hardened with a special curing light.
Chewing Surface of Molar
Before Sealant Applied | 
Chewing Surface of Molar
Protected by a Shaded Sealant | 
Even a toothbrush bristle is too big to fit into fissure (magnified) |
How long do sealants last?As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed.Who should get tooth sealants?Most pit and fissure cavities begin early in life, so children and teenagers with permanent teeth are obvious candidates. But adults cam benefit from sealants as well. The best way to determine the need for sealants is to evaluate the person's risk for pit and fissure decay, which continues throughout one's life and varies from person to person. Risk can also vary for the same person over time, because changes in personal habits, health status and medication use are known to increase risk of decay. Lack of access to fluorides and fluoridated water, a history of previous decay, and chronic xerostomia (dry mouth) are also factors we will consider when evaluating you for sealants.
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