What is a Sealant?

A sealant is a clear, acrylic-like material that bonds with the tooth to help shield out decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  Cavities often occur on the biting surfaces of teeth because bristles of a toothbrush are too wide to enter the area.  Sealants form a protective barrier covering the pits and fissures (depressions and grooves) to prevent cavities in hard to clean back teeth.  Sealants are a safe, painless, and low-cost wayto protect patients teeth - particularly children.  Children are often better candidates than adults for this treatment because sealants can only be applied if teeth are free of decay and filings, which is often the case with new teeth in children.

Before

After

Sealants can be applied by either the dentist or dental hygenist.  There is no discomfort associated with sealant application, so numbing is not necessary.  The treatment is done in three easy steps.

1. Teeth are cleaned, dried and etched so the sealant will adhere.
2. The sealant is painted on and hardened with a special light.
3. Each tooth is examined to be sure that the grooves are fully covered and that the sealant won’t interfere with chewing.