What are Dental Sealants and Varnishes?
Dental Sealants: Dental Sealants are applied to childrens’ teeth by a dental professional to protect the biting surfaces. The deep fissures on the biting surfaces of back teeth can trap food and debris making them susceptible to dental decay. A sealant basically fills in the deep fissure “sealing” out bacteria and food debris and making the tooth surface easier to keep clean. To apply the sealant, the dental professional will first dry the tooth, or sometimes place a rubber barrier between the tooth and the rest of the mouth, and then apply the tooth-colored plastic sealant into the tooth groove. At this stage the dental sealant is quite fluid to flow easily into the grooves. The sealant is made to harden either by setting on its own or by a special light. To be most effective, the sealant should be placed on the tooth surface soon after it erupts. Fluoride Varnish: While dental sealants can help protect the biting surfaces of teeth, a fluoride varnish can help protect both the biting
