Author- Dr Aparna Pandya ( Mrs India Vivacious 2019)
A great way to protect teeth from decay are Sealants. They’re a safe and painless way of protecting the teeth. A sealant may be a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the rear teeth. It forms a tough shield that keeps food and bacteria from fixating into the tiny grooves in the teeth and thereby leading to tooth decay.
Sealants are only applied to the rear teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits’ (small hollows) and ‘fissures’ (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Some teeth naturally have deep grooves which can need to be sealed; others have shallow ones which will not need sealing.
The process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only some minutes for each tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then cured to harden usually by shining a bright light onto it.
Sealants will wear over time, and sometimes it maybe required to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it.
The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier by covering all the small grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves if they’re not sealed.
Sealants are a secure and painless way of protecting your teeth from tooth decay. A sealant may be a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the rear teeth. The sealant forms a tough shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
The procedure is totally pain free, and therefore the teeth do not feel any different afterwards.
Sealants are often applied as soon because the first permanent teeth start to come through. This is often usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The remainder are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.
The teeth which are treated with pit and fissure sealants surface is much easier to stay clean and healthy with normal brushing. Employing a fluoride toothpaste, last item at night and at least one other time during the day, will help to guard the teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces cavity and the number of fillings you might need.
Reevaluation of the applied sealant is very critical step as in some of the cases, it may so happen that there might be some pits that are left out. Hence it is important to ensure all pits and fissures are adequately covered and ensure that the sealant never extends over the marginal ridge of the tooth. Use an articulating paper to prevent occlusal interferences or any high points.
