Sealants
Sealants are a way to protect certain teeth from getting cavities on the chewing surface. They are used mostly on permanent molars that have deep grooves. The deep, narrow grooves are hard to keep clean. Many of the grooves are narrower than a tooth brush bristle. That makes removal of the bacterial plaque almost impossible. These areas are usually the first to form cavities in children.
The process of placing sealants is quick and easy for the patient. The biggest requirement is that the teeth being treated must be kept dry for the minute or so that it takes to place the sealant. For this reason, it’s impractical to place sealants for very young or uncooperative children.
A sealant is a flowable plastic resin that bonds to the tooth structure within the grooves, partially filling them up to the level of the surrounding tooth structure. This creates a smoother surface that is much easier to keep clean.