It’s natural for the occlusal or biting surfaces of your molars and premolars to have small pits and fissures. These areas can sometime be hard to clean. The stuck-on food particles and plaque encourages tooth decay. It’s not uncommon for dentist to recommend dental sealants for teenagers or adults who are showing problems with keeping these areas clean.
Dental sealants are essentially a thin resin layer your dentist paints onto the biting surface of the teeth. They can last for several years to help keep food particles and bacteria from having direct access to your tooth enamel.
It’s important to keep in mind that the sealants are only painted on the biting surface. The sides and spaces between the teeth are unprotected and thus as vulnerable to tooth decay as any other tooth in your mouth. Make sure to brush and floss these teeth twice each day. It’s okay to brush the biting surfaces too, as the resins are too durable to be damaged by regular brushing.
While the resin material will not last forever, they should, on the average, protect your teeth for up to two years or more.
If you have any questions about dental sealants, please call us at 317-852-4593 to schedule an appointment.