Your teeth are constantly being covered with a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque. When we eat or drink anything that contains sugar or starch – such as milk, bread, biscuits, toffee, aerated drinks, juice, fruit and many other foods and beverages-bacteria turn the sugar and starch into acids that can attack tooth enamel. For some people, repeated attacks may eventually result in decay. The good news is that there is away to protect your teeth and prevent decay.
One of the most common places that tooth decay develops is on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, the premolars and molars. When you run your tongue along the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, you can feel depressions and grooves. These indentations, called pits and fissures, help to grind food.
Regular brushing and cleaning between teeth with floss or another interdentally cleaner help remove food particles and bacteria from the smooth surfaces of tooth enamel. However, it’s difficult to keep the pits and fissures clean. That’s because toothbrush bristles can’t reach into the grooves of your back teeth to remove plaque, bacteria and tiny particles of food.
Preventive measures in the form of pit and fissure sealants can help prevent decay initiating in the grooves and fissures. Dental sealants can help prevent decay. They can also help you save time and money that would have been spent on restorative dental procedures.
A dental sealant is plastic material that is applied to a chewing surface of a back tooth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel by “sealing out” plaque and food.
Sealants are easy to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth & it is a “painless “procedure, First the teeth that will be sealed are cleaned and prepared to accept the sealant. The sealant is then ‘painted’ onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to harden the sealant. Sealants are generally clear or white and cannot be seen when you smile or talk.
How long do sealants last for?
As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth’s chewing surfaces will be protected from plaque and food. Sealants, which hold up well under the force of everyday chewing, can last a few years before a reapplication is needed. However, it is important to see the dentist regularly to check that the sealant remains intact.
