The awareness about dental sealants has risen recently. Most of the parents didn’t have any idea about dental sealants when they were young. This is the reason that they need to be educated first before they feel comfortable about bringing their children to the dentists for the application of dental sealants. Although you can take help from pediatric dentist or dental hygienist to get information about the dental sealants, you can read about dental sealants on your own in order to develop basic understanding regarding how they work and how beneficial they can be.

Dental sealant is basically a barrier which is placed on the chewing surface to prevent it from getting food particles and bacteria consolidated in the areas where toothbrush’s bristles do not reach. This application of dental sealants can complement teeth’s brushing, flossing, healthy diet, and all other ways to ensure better dental hygiene. Although brushing and flossing provide primary protection against dental health infections, application of dental sealants serves as an extra layer of protection as the pits and fissures, where brush bristles cannot reach, are prevented from collecting food particles, plaque and bacteria.

Although each of your child’s teeth can have dental caries, dental sealants are specifically required for the ones which have deep pits and fissures. These pits and fissures are normally impossible to clean with the help of toothbrush. Typically, molars and premolars are the teeth which need to be covered with sealants because the chewing surfaces of these teeth have patterns of fissures. Sealants need to be applied as soon as the chewing surfaces of these molars erupt from the gum line. Usually, the children of age six start getting the first molars erupted in the back of their mouths.

Dental sealants are placed by qualified dental hygienists or dentists. The process of sealant application is fairly simple but it requires careful handling. So, it is not something everyone can do at home. Prior to application of sealants, the tooth needs to be cleaned well. After cleaning, tooth is dried and then an acidic gel is applied on the surface where sealant has to be applied. This gel roughens up the surface for the sealant to get hold of the surface. The tooth is cleaned again and then dried. Now is the time for the application of dental sealant. After it is applied, a special ultraviolet light is used for hardening the sealant. The procedure is usually quicker and is done in a few minutes.