Dental sealants: What are they and how do they work?
They consist of a filling material similar to what dentist use to repair cavities in your teeth. However, they are different in the sense that it is more of a preventative measure than a reactive measure to decay.
Dental sealants: Why do we place them on the teeth?
Children are typically at risk for developing decay during their younger years, as their overall dental hygiene is not adequate to prevent decay from forming. Sealants are generally placed on the biting surfaces of your teeth where deep grooves are at high risk for developing decay. These grooves are present on the posterior teeth, in which we use them for chewing and grinding. Before a cavity develops we would clean the surface and remove any early signs of decay, if present, and place a preventative dental sealant.
Dentists place dental sealants on children’s teeth on a routine basis. However, adults who are at risk for decay also receive sealants as a conservative measure to save their tooth structure while lowering their risk for developing tooth decay. Your risk for decay changes throughout your life as your habits and diets change.
What do Dental sealants look like?
They look like a white filling in the grooves of the teeth.