Highly effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth, dental sealants are a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored acrylic “coating” is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively “seals” the deep grooves acting as a barrier and protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque. It is very easy for food and plaque to become lodged in these deep depressions, and it is hard to remove them with just brushing and flossing. The thin acrylic coating will seal off those surfaces so nothing can get stuck to start damage.

How are Sealants Placed?

Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth. Typically, sealants are placed onto the teeth right after your teeth have been professionally cleaned and examined by the dentist. An examination is essential to ensure no signs of decay on the teeth receiving sealants. This will prevent cavities and bacteria from being trapped underneath the sealant.

After the tooth is examined and is clean enough for a sealant, the first step is isolating it and then etching it. Etch is a safe dental acid that slightly roughens up the tooth’s surface to help the sealant stick. Next, the etch will be removed by a thorough rinsing and then dried completely. The tooth needs to stay dry for the sealant to be secured onto the tooth properly.

Once completely dry, the acrylic sealant material is placed, spread into the depressions of the tooth, and then cured with a blue light. This special light will harden the acrylic, making it durable and smooth to the touch.

Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before a reapplication is needed. If the tooth remained dry during the sealant placement, patients should expect it to last for up to ten years.