A sealant is a thin plastic film applied on the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. A dental sealant is one of the highest effective procedure in preventative dentistry.
How long will it last?
A dental sealant usually last somewhere between 5 and 10 years. It can be maintained at your regular checkup visits and easily fixed if it has an issue.
Why is a sealant needed?
Back teeth have deep grooves and pits that are very difficult to keep clean. Plaque, which is a nearly invisible film of bacteria and food, collects in these groves. To make the plaque easier to see, we may stain the plaque with a harmless red dye.
Every time you eat the bacteria in plaque forms acid. Without sealants, these acid attacks can cause the enamel to break down, and you get a cavity.
Sealants are used to protect teeth that have deep grooves or pits from getting cavities, primarily the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where most cavities in children are found.
