Lafayette, Colorado

Dental Sealants

 

 

 

 

 

A dental sealant (also called a pit and fissure sealant) is a material that is painted and bonded on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent cavities.  By “sealing” over cracks and groves, sealants provide a physical barrier that protects teeth from developing cavities in the more likely areas where food, plaque, and bacteria collects.

 

Most cavities in children occur in surfaces with pits and fissures, and many times on the chewing surfaces alone.  Therefore, children should get their permanent molars and bicuspids sealed as soon as they erupt.  First permanent molars erupt into the mouth at about six years of age, while second permanent molars erupt into the mouth at about age 12.  The sooner they get sealed, the less chance decay can get into a tooth.