Tooth Sealants
A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
Thorough tooth brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, but they cannot always get into all the crevices and nooks of the back teeth. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by "sealing out" plaque and food.
Typically sealants are placed on the premolars and molars of children and teenagers as soon as these teeth come in because they have the highest likelihood of decay. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. In certain situations, even some adults without decay or fillings in their molars may benefit from sealants.
