Which teeth should be sealed?
The teeth that are most at risk of decay, and those that a sealant will adhere to. (This depends on the likelihood of caries in your child). But in general all permanent molars G A Q yr. molars), and sometimes primary molars and premolars. Dr. Bookmyer can discuss which teeth on your child can benefit most from sealants.
Sealants are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. Your dentist will tell you which teeth should be sealed after he/she has examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally form with deep grooves which will need to be sealed, others with shallow ones which will not need sealing.
The natural flow of saliva usually keeps the smooth surfaces of teeth clean but does not wash out the grooves and fissures. So, the teeth most at risk of decay—and therefore most in need of sealants – are the six-year and twelve-year molars. Many times the permanent premolars and primary molars will also benefit from sealant coverage. Any tooth, however, with grooves or pits may benefit from the protection of sealants. Talk to your pediatric dentist, as each child’s situation is unique.
A. Any tooth that has characteristics, which a sealant can correct, and thus place the tooth at less risk for developing decay, should be sealed. The most common teeth for a dentist to seal are a child s back teeth, and of these teeth permanent molars are the most common teeth on which dental sealants are placed. The recommendation for sealants should be considered on an individual basis.
