Dental sealants represent a true technological breakthrough in the prevention of dental decay. In fact, the combination of dental sealants and fluoridation of the water has enabled us to reduce the amount of tooth decay and teeth lost from tooth decay by as much as 75% since the introduction of fluoride in the early 1960's.

Dental sealants are a semi-permanent plastic like coating that is placed into the deep grooves and fissures of the teeth and makes them virtually impermeable to the bacteria which cause tooth decay. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to place requiring no drilling or local anesthesia.

In our practice, sealants are recommended only for previously unfilled permanent molar teeth, (6 and 12 year molars) which represents eight teeth in total. Usually this procedure is performed for a patient at about 6 years old and then again at about 12 years old.

Once placed, the integrity of the seal is checked at each subsequent well care visit and chipped or missing sealants are replaced or repaired.

The diagrams below outline how a sealant is placed on a tooth:

1. Etching of the surface of the tooth with a mild acid is accomplished to prepare the surface to accept the dental sealant.

2. The plastic sealant or coating is then applied to the tooth surface with special attention to the deep grooves and fissures where decay is most likely to start.

3. The plastic coating is then quickly hardened with the aid of a special high intensity curing light.

4. The hardened sealant is then trimmed and smoothed.

5. The properly sealed tooth is now impervious to tooth decay in an area that is normally highly susceptible to decay.

Copyright 1998, 2002 Glick, Layman & Associates, Inc. / Last Updated: 08/12/2010                                                                                                                      Legal