Sealants

To help aid in the prevention of tooth decay, sealants will be applied to any non-restored biting surface on the back teeth. This means that adults can benefit from sealants being applied to their teeth, as well as children.

A sealant is a clear, plastic-like material that provides a barrier in the pits of the tooth, eliminates the environment to decay-causing bacteria and makes the biting surfaces easier to clean.

Sealants are usually applied to the six and twelve year molars once they have erupted, but it may also be recommended to have the primary (baby) molars and premolars sealed as they appear. Most insurance companies cover sealants to some degree (some have an age limit and some do not cover the baby molars or premolars). As every insurance company and plan is different, it is suggested that you call your insurance company to find out your plan's coverage.

Sealant material is quite durable, but at every six month recare appointment, we evaluate them to make sure they are intact. They may need to be "touched up" or they may need to be completely redone. Depending on the chewing pattern or any habits (such as chewing hard candies or ice), sealants can last a number of years.Typically, sealant retention rates have been reported to be sixty percent at two years and forty percent at five years.

Most importantly, it has been shown that after sealant placement, the rate of dental decay can be reduce by eighty percent after one year and seventy percent after two years.