Dental sealants are thin coatings of resin filling material that go over the grooves of teeth to prevent tooth decay. As a flexible material, the resin can easily flow into the grooves of teeth to cover them and make them more shallow. While similar to a filling, dental sealants are more flowable and allow teeth to be cleaned easily. We typically recommend sealants for children, although there are some instances where they may help adult patients as well.
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Dental Sealants for Kids
It’s a well-known fact that kids aren’t great at brushing their teeth. Whether they’re too young to do an effective job brushing or are busy living the life of a teenager, pediatric patients benefit the most from sealants. We recommended sealants for permanent molars in children, as they make those grooves in the adult teeth less deep. Shallow teeth are less likely to get food stuck in them, thus effectively preventing tooth decay.
Sealants aren’t necessary for all children, especially if the grooves of the teeth aren’t very deep or the child is able to brush their teeth really well. Because sealants are typically covered under insurance and are offered in our discount plan, we recommend them for most children. Because even if a child does brush their teeth well, they could eventually get braces, which will make it more difficult for them to brush their teeth and keep them clean. Along with fluoride, sealants are one of the biggest preventions of tooth decay in the pediatric population.
When Do Adults Need Sealants?
Sealants aren’t necessary for someone that can clean their teeth well. We only recommend sealants for adults if a patient isn’t able to brush their teeth well or they have very deep grooves. We might also suggest it if we see food or stains getting stuck in the grooves of the tooth that the patient can’t remove with a toothbrush. So we will clean out those grooves and put a sealant there, so it’s easier to clean.
People with deeper grooves are also more likely to get small seeds, such as blackberry seeds, stuck in their teeth. To prevent this issue from happening, we can put a sealant on the tooth to keep the seed from getting stuck.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
When sealants aren’t placed well, they can wear off very quickly. The bond on sealants is not very strong to the tooth. If they’re placed well, they can last 10 to 20 years. If we start to see stains around a sealant, it indicates a leak. Leaking is the first sign that the sealant is debonding from the tooth, so we recommend removing it, as bacteria can get underneath and cause decay.
How We Apply Dental Sealants
The number one thing for a successful sealant application is maintaining a dry tooth. We always dry off the tooth really well by putting cotton around it. The assistant might hold the tongue or cheek back as well. We then put acid etch on the tooth, which we refer to as “blue soap” for children because it is blue in color. The etching opens up the pores in the tooth that the sealant sticks to microscopically. We place the etch on for 30 seconds to a minute before rinsing off completely.
Then, we dry the tooth off completely before putting the sealant on. After the sealant is applied, we take our explorer tool and push the sealant into the grooves of the teeth. The final step is to cure the sealant. The entire process takes two minutes for each tooth, but the most important thing is keeping the tooth dry. Sealants can sometimes impact the occlusion of the teeth and need to be adjusted, although it is unlikely.
While sealants are one way we provide care to children, it’s just one aspect. Read more about our approach to pediatric dentistry.
At Cedarwood Dentistry, we cultivate dental health through personalized care. We offer a variety of dental services, including family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency care in Midlothian, Virginia. Whether you last visited the dentist six months or six years ago, we can help bring your smile to life. Schedule your dentist appointment today by calling 804-379-9375.