Sealants: What Are They?

Applying sealants to your teeth is a painless and safe method of preventing tooth decay. A sealant is a layer of plastic that is put to the biting surfaces of the back teeth to provide protection. By creating a barrier, the sealant prevents food particles and germs from entering the minuscule tooth grooves and causing decay.

How Is the Process Carried Out?

Typically, the procedure is simple and rapid, requiring a few minutes for each tooth. After giving the tooth a thorough cleaning, a particular solution is applied, and it is dried. After that, the liquid sealant is poured and given time to solidify—typically by being exposed to intense light.

How Do Sealants and Pits Work?

The sealant fills in all of the tiny ridges and valleys on the tooth’s surface, creating a smooth, shielding layer. In these grooves, dental rot can readily begin if they are not sealed.

At What Age Can I Apply?

For primary molars, this is often between the ages of 3 and 4 years. Then, for permanent first molars, at the ages of 6 and 7 years, as soon as they erupt, and at any point between the ages of 11 and 14 for premolars and second molars.