What are dental sealants?
The term dental sealant refers to a plastic the dentist bonds to the grooves of the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent dental caries.

Why are dental sealants placed on teeth?
Dental caries is caused by a whitish film that accumulates on teeth, known as dental plaque. The longer plaque remains in contact with the tooth surface the higher the risk of producing a carious cavity. The idea of toothbrushing is to remove and deorganize plaque, but some teeth due to their anatomy are harder to clean than others. Some teeth, especially molars, are harder to clean because the grooves of the chewing surface, the "pits and fissures" are narrow and deep and the toothbrush bristles do not remove all the plaque, increasing the risk of caries. The dentist can fight this situation by bonding a plastic on these grooves. The result is that the tooth surface is now flatter and smoother, and there are no areas where the bristles cannot clean.

At what age should sealants be placed?
Most sealants are placed in children. When placing the sealants, the dentist should keep the tooth surface dry, this means that at least the chewing surface should be erupted (outside the gum) and also that the patient has an age in which there could be some degree of cooperation. The specific age in which this combination of events is given may vary from child to child.

Which teeth should have sealants?
Tooth anatomy has much influence on the decision to seal or not, deciduous (baby) teeth are generally flatter and smoother than permanent teeth. Teeth more commonly in need of sealants are the molars. But each case should be analized personally.

Should sealants be placed always?
Not necessarily, after an examination, the dentist will inform you which is more appropiate for your child. The tooth anatomy, the amount of dental plaque and the history of fluoride treatments should be considered before placing sealants.

How long do sealants last?
Sealant longevity is variable. Any sealant that has lasted 3 to 5 years in the mouth should be considered succesful. It is common to see sealants in adults that were placed during childhood. However, a sealant that falls off or fractures before 3 to 5 years should not be considered a failure. Any time that the sealant stays on the tooth is time that the tooth was protected. It is important to check sealant integrity periodically.