Are Sealants Effective in Preventing Tooth Decay?
Sealants are a valuable preventive tool against tooth decay. Though they have been available since the 1960’s. They have perhaps been underused, mainly because health insurers haven’t reimbursed for them. However, many insurance companies are now covering the cost of sealants, especially in children under the age of 18. School age children benefit the most from sealants. Although the use of fluoride in the drinking water, and in toothpaste, has drastically reduced the amount of tooth decay in children and adults, the use of sealants can do so even further. While 97% of children less than five years of age have no sign of tooth decay, that number falls to only 15% free from decay by the age of 17 (without the use of sealants). Dental sealants are most often applied to the molars, usually at ages 6 to 8 and 8 to 12, which coincides with the eruption of the 6- and 12-year molar teeth. They can be effectively used at other ages, even into adulthood. The reason the sealants are applied in t
