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.

Our dentist can combat this situation by bonding plastic (the dental sealant) into the grooves of a tooth. The net result is that the surface of the tooth is somewhat flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can’t reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay will start.

Another difficulty related to deep grooves in teeth is that sometimes the thickness of the enamel at the base of the groove is less thick than the enamel that encases other portions of the tooth. This means that not only can deep narrow grooves make it more likely a person’s tooth will develop decay (because the tooth can’t be cleaned effectively) but also that the cavity which does form has an easier time of penetrating the enamel layer because it is less thick.

Sealants actually were developed about 50 years ago, but didn’t become commonly used until the 1970s. Today, sealants are becoming widely popular and effective; young children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants because in many cases, decay has not set in. Even on teeth where decay is present, sealants have been shown to fight additional damage.

Sealants are applied by first cleaning the tooth surface. The procedure is followed by “etching” the tooth with an abrasive substance, which allows the sealant to better adhere. After the sealant is applied, a warm light source is directed to the site to promote faster drying. Sealants usually need re-application every five to ten years.