Protect Your Child's Teeth From Decay: Seal Out Tooth Decay

    Seal Out Tooth Decay
    Daily brushing, flossing, and fluorides form an effective team in the fight against dental disease. Now, dentists are also using sealants to further protect your child's teeth from decay and to prevent him or her from ever experiencing the discomfort of a toothache.

    What Are Sealants?
    A sealant is a tough, plastic material designed to bond with tooth enamel. Clear or tooth-colored sealants are routinely applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This invisible barrier reduces the risk of tooth decay by keeping food and plaque out of cavity prone areas. The procedure is pain free and non-invasive.

    What Are Pits And Fissures?
    During normal tooth development, deep grooves form in the back teeth. These grooves are called fissures. A pit forms where two fissures cross.

    These pits and fissures fill up with food and bacteria. Because toothbrush bristles are too thick to reach into the pits and fissures, the food and bacteria cannot be easily removed by brushing, flossing, or rinsing.

    The protective enamel layer on the tooth is particularly thin in these pits and fissures. Bacteria acts on the food to form strong acids that weaken and destroy the tooth enamel. Decay starts, and a cavity is formed. In order to save the tooth, it must be repaired by a dentist.

    Why Use Sealants?
    The use of fluorides have dramatically reduced the incidence of tooth decay. However, fluorides are most effective in protecting the smooth surfaces of the teeth. Their use is limited in the pit and fissure area.

    Sealants provide additional protection by shielding these hard to reach grooves from decay-causing agents.

    When Should Sealants Be Applied?
    Tooth decay occurs much faster in children than in adults. Sealants should be applied to a child's teeth as soon as possible, before decay has had a chance to set in.

    How Are Sealants Applied?
    Sealants are applied quickly and easily by either the dentist or dental hygienist. There is no discomfort and no need for anesthesia.

    First, the teeth are thoroughly cleaned to remove debris and bacteria. Then, the surfaces to be sealed are chemically treated to etch the tooth for better bonding. The liquid sealant is then painted on the surface of the tooth, where it flows into the pits and fissures. Some sealants harden with air exposure; others require ultraviolet or visible light. A hand held "light wand" may be used for this purpose.

     

    Tiny pits and fissure are filled with a nearly invisible sealant.

     

    How Long Do Sealants Last?
    Sealants usually last many years. The abrasive nature of some foods, like ice, hard candy, or sticky foods can dislodge or damage a sealant. When this happens, the sealant can be reapplied to the tooth.

    Decay And Sealants
    If the decay process has already started, it is too late to apply sealants as a preventive measure. Decay will not start under a fissure sealant because the decay causing organisms are deprived of the food and oxygen they need to flourish.

     
    Summary
    The use of sealants substantially reduces the risk of tooth decay by keeping food and bacteria out of cavity prone areas. In combination with careful brushing, flossing, and fluorides, sealants are an effective step towards a lifetime of excellent dental health.