Sealants

Have you ever wondered why some people still get cavities even though they brush, floss, and don’t eat a lot of sugar? One possible reason for this is that some people have very deep grooves in the biting surfaces of their teeth, known as pits and fissures. While everyone has pits and fissures in their molars, there is great variation in the anatomy of these areas. If the fissures are shallow, they are not difficult to keep clean. However, if the fissures are prominent, it can sometimes be impossible to remove all the bacteria that nestle there.

A sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the grooves and fissures of back teeth that acts as a barrier to bacteria, preventing them from remaining sheltered in crevices that are impossible to clean.

The application of sealants is a painless procedure. First, the grooves of the teeth are cleaned, and a conditioning solution is applied. The sealant is then flowed into the groove, and hardened using a special curing light. Usually, the patient is able to eat and drink immediately after the procedure.

Sealants can play an important part of a total preventive program including brushing, flossing, proper diet, fluoride, and regular dental visits.