How do sealants work?
In many cases, it is nearly impossible for children to clean the tiny grooves between their teeth. When a sealant is applied, the surface of the tooth is somewhat flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay will start.
In many cases, it is nearly impossible for children to clean the tiny grooves between their teeth. When a sealant is applied, the surface of the tooth is somewhat flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay will start.
A. In many cases, it is near impossible for children to clean the tiny grooves between their teeth. When a sealant is applied, the surface of the tooth is somewhat flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay will start.
All back teeth naturally have grooves and pits in their chewing surfaces. Sealants are equivalent to a varnish that you place on wood to keep dirt and debris from getting into the grain. The wood varnish makes the surface of the wood smooth. That is the same action that is provided by dental sealants for the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Which teeth should be sealed? The most commonly sealed teeth are the permanent molars, usually the last set of teeth in the mouth. These teeth have many grooves and pits into which bacteria and debris will get packed. The next most common set of teeth is the premolars (the teeth that come into the mouth between age 10 and 13 years). The primary molars that show deep grooves are also candidates for sealants as well as a rare front tooth that exhibits a groove on the tongue side. Simply put, any tooth that has grooves or pits may benefit from the protection that sealants provide. How early can the teeth be sealed?
Sealants work by “sealing” the tiny grooves in teeth where it is difficult to keep clean. Toothbrush bristles are too thick to reach into the tiny grooves of certain teeth, and thus food and bacteria build up in these areas, placing your child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants basically “seal out” food and plaque, thus reducing the risk for decoy.
