Sealants
After years of decline, the
incidence of dental caries has
once again begun to increase.
The Surgeon General in his
Report on Oral Health in America
notes that '' Indeed, what
amounts to a 'silent epidemic'
of dental and oral diseases is
affecting some population
groups."
Sealants are extremely effective
in the long-term reduction of
pit and fissure caries, and
studies have shown sealants to
reduce the incidence of caries
as much as 50 percent.
What
is Sealant?
A sealant is
a thin, plastic coating applied
to the chewing surface of
molars, premolars and any deep
grooves (called pits and
fissures) of teeth. More than
75% of dental decay begins in
these deep grooves. Teeth with
these conditions are hard to
clean and are very susceptible
to decay. A sealant protects
the tooth by sealing deep
grooves, creating a smooth, easy
to clean surface.
Sealants can
protect teeth from decay for
many years, but need to be
checked for wear and chipping at
regular dental visits.
Sealants are most effective for
patients with a high or moderate
risk of developing carious
lesion
Reasons
for sealants:
-
Children
and teenagers – As soon as
the six-year molars (the
first permanent back teeth)
appear or any time
throughout the cavity prone
years of 6-16.
-
Adults –
Tooth surfaces without decay
that have deep grooves or
depressions.
-
Baby
teeth – Occasionally done if
teeth have deep grooves or
depressions and child is
cavity prone.
What do
sealants involve?
Sealants are
easily applied by your dentist
or dental hygienist and the
process takes only a couple of
minutes per tooth.
The teeth to
be sealed are thoroughly cleaned
and then surrounded with cotton
to keep the area dry. A special
solution is applied to the
enamel surface to help the
sealant bond to the teeth. The
teeth are then rinsed and
dried. Sealant material is
carefully painted onto the
enamel surface to cover the deep
grooves or depressions.
Depending on the type of sealant
used, the material will either
harden automatically or with a
special curing light.
Proper home
care, a balanced diet, and
regular dental visits will aid
in the life of your new
sealants.
