Why are dental sealants placed on teeth?
Dental sealant are a protective covering placed in the grooves of teeth. This prevents foods from getting stuck in the grooves and thus helps prevent the formation of dental cavities. Dental cavities are the number cause of visits to the emergency dental clinic.
Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque (the white film that forms on a person’s teeth). In general, the longer dental plaque remains on a tooth’s surface the more likely it will be able to form a cavity. The idea behind brushing teeth is that dental plaque that has accumulated on a tooth’s surface is scrubbed off. Some teeth however, related to aspects associated with their anatomy, are harder to clean than others. The bristles of the toothbrush just do not get down into these valley areas very effectively. Placing a sealant in these areas makes them easier to keep clean and prevents the food and bacterial “plaque” from lodging in these areas and forming cavities.
The chewing surfaces of the molar and premolar teeth have grooves — “fissures” — that make them vulnerable to decay. These fissures can be deep, are difficult to clean, and can be narrower than even a single bristle of a toothbrush. Plaque accumulates in these areas, and the acid from bacteria in the plaque attacks the enamel and cavities can develop. Fluoride helps prevent decay and helps protect all the surfaces of the teeth, dental sealants provide extra protection for the grooved and pitted areas by providing a smooth surface covering over the fissured area. When are dental sealants placed? The first dental sealant to be placed is usually on the fissure of the first permanent molar tooth, once the chewing surface of the tooth has erupted completely beyond the gum. This tooth grows in behind the baby teeth. If the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of these teeth are sealed, the dental sealant will help protect the tooth.
Tooth decay is caused by the white film that forms on a person’s teeth, dentist’s refer to this film as “plaque”. The longer plaque remains on a tooth’s surface the more likely it will be able to create a cavity. The idea behind brushing teeth is that the plaque that has accumulated on a tooth’s surface is scrubbed off. Some teeth however, because of their anatomy, are harder to effectively clean than others. Some back teeth, especially molars, are difficult for a person to clean because the grooves in the chewing part of the tooth (the tooth’s “pits and fissures”) are deep and narrow. Even though the person brushes they can not clean the plaque off adequately because the bristles of their toothbrush are literally too large to gain access into the bottom of the tooth’s grooves. Because some plaque is not cleaned off a cavity can develop. A dentist can combat this situation by bonding plastic (the dental sealant) into the grooves of a tooth.
