Dental sealant
Encyclopedia
Dental sealants are a dental
treatment consisting of applying a plastic
material to one or more teeth, for the intended purpose of preventing dental caries
(cavities) or other forms of tooth decay.
, the incidence of tooth decay on the smooth surfaces of teeth has declined, in part because of fluoridation becoming widespread in public water supplies
and because of improved dental hygiene
among the public. However, because the teeth in the back of the mouth (molar
s and premolars) have numerous pits and fissures on their biting surfaces, certain areas of these teeth are often difficult to clean even with vigorous tooth-brushing
. To remedy this, research into dental sealants began in the 1960s, and by the early 1970s the first generation of sealants became available and were approved by the FDA
.
Sealants painted over pits and fissures in the chewing surfaces of back teeth block food from being trapped and any carbohydrate like sugar being changed to acid by resident plaque bacteria and halts demineralisation and the caries process.
Chewing fibre like celery after eating forces saliva
into food trapped inside pits and fissures. The saliva neutralises acid and remineralises demineralised tooth.
Fissure sealants can be forced deeper inside pits and fissures under pressure where the tooth was dissolved in acid, showing how food is forced inside even the deepest most minute pits of chewing surfaces.
coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.
Permanent molars
are the most likely to benefit from sealants. The first molars usually come into the mouth when a child is about 6 years old. Second molars appear at about age 12. It is best if the sealant is applied soon after the teeth have erupted, before they have a chance to decay.
Applying sealants does not require drilling
or removing tooth structure. The process is short and easy. After the tooth is cleaned, a special gel is placed on the chewing surface for a few seconds. The tooth is then washed off and dried. Then, the sealant is painted on the tooth. The dentist or dental hygienist also may shine a light on the tooth to help harden the sealant. It takes about a minute for the sealant to form a protective shield.
Sealants can only be seen up close. Sealants can be clear, white, or slightly tinted, and usually are not seen when a child talks or smiles.
As with anything new that is placed in the mouth, a child may feel the sealant with the tongue. Sealants, however, are very thin and only fill the pits and grooves of molar teeth.
A sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years. Sealants should be checked at each regular dental appointment and can be reapplied if they are no longer in place.
, mouth rinse
, and community water supplies also help to prevent decay, but in a different way. Sealants keep germs and food particles out of the grooves by covering them with a safe plastic coating. Sealants and fluorides work together to prevent tooth decay.
Sealants are one part of a child's total preventive dental care. A complete preventive dental program also includes fluoride, twice-daily brushing, wise food choices, and regular dental care.
Sealing a tooth is better than waiting for decay and filling the cavity. Decay damages teeth permanently. Sealants protect them. Sealants can save time, money, and the discomfort sometimes associated with dental fillings
. Fillings are not permanent. Each time a tooth is filled, more drilling is done and the tooth becomes a little weaker.
's office. The dentist, dental hygienist or assistant first cleans and dries the tooth to be treated, then applies a slightly acidic solution on the tooth to create a rough surface that helps the sealant bond, and finally paints a thin layer of liquid plastic material on the pits and fissures of the tooth. After application of the plastic liquid, blue spectrum natural light is shone on the applied material for a few seconds to cure the plastic. Alternatively, some brands of sealants self-cure via a chemical process.
After curing, the plastic becomes a hard, thin layer covering the treated portions of the tooth. Despite the heavy pressures effected on teeth during chewing each day, dental sealants may remain effective for five years or longer, although sealants do wear naturally and may become damaged over time. Bacteria and food particles may eventually become entrapped under the dental sealants, and can thus cause decay in the very teeth intended to be protected.
(BPA) and dental sealants have been a point of discussion for researchers, dental providers, and consumers. BPA can be found in saliva in detectable amounts (micrograms) after placement of dental sealants.http://www.bisphenol-a.org/human/dental.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1513299/ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100910093150.htm The Canadian Dental Association
http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/faqs_resources/faqs/bpa_faqs.asp and the American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org/1766.aspx have issued statements on their websites regarding BPA in dental sealants.
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
treatment consisting of applying a plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
material to one or more teeth, for the intended purpose of preventing dental caries
Dental caries
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is an irreversible infection usually bacterial in origin that causes demineralization of the hard tissues and destruction of the organic matter of the tooth, usually by production of acid by hydrolysis of the food debris accumulated on the...
(cavities) or other forms of tooth decay.
Development
Since the 1980s, in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the incidence of tooth decay on the smooth surfaces of teeth has declined, in part because of fluoridation becoming widespread in public water supplies
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
and because of improved dental hygiene
Oral hygiene
Teeth cleaning is part of oral hygiene and involves the removal of dental plaque from teeth with the intention of preventing cavities , gingivitis, and periodontal disease. People routinely clean their own teeth by brushing and interdental cleaning, and dental hygienists can remove hardened...
among the public. However, because the teeth in the back of the mouth (molar
Molar (tooth)
Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. In many mammals they grind food; hence the Latin name mola, "millstone"....
s and premolars) have numerous pits and fissures on their biting surfaces, certain areas of these teeth are often difficult to clean even with vigorous tooth-brushing
Tooth brushing
Tooth brushing is the act of cleaning teeth with a toothbrush.Modern medical research has shown that brushing teeth properly can prevent cavities, and periodontal, or gum disease, which causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss. If teeth are not brushed correctly and frequently, it could lead...
. To remedy this, research into dental sealants began in the 1960s, and by the early 1970s the first generation of sealants became available and were approved by the FDA
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
.
Sealants painted over pits and fissures in the chewing surfaces of back teeth block food from being trapped and any carbohydrate like sugar being changed to acid by resident plaque bacteria and halts demineralisation and the caries process.
Chewing fibre like celery after eating forces saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
into food trapped inside pits and fissures. The saliva neutralises acid and remineralises demineralised tooth.
Fissure sealants can be forced deeper inside pits and fissures under pressure where the tooth was dissolved in acid, showing how food is forced inside even the deepest most minute pits of chewing surfaces.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are thin plasticPlastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.
Permanent molars
Permanent teeth
Permanent teeth are the second set of teeth formed in humans. There are thirty-two permanent teeth, consisting of six maxillary and six mandibular molars, four maxillary and four mandibular premolars, two maxillary and two mandibular canines, four maxillary and four mandibular incisors.The first...
are the most likely to benefit from sealants. The first molars usually come into the mouth when a child is about 6 years old. Second molars appear at about age 12. It is best if the sealant is applied soon after the teeth have erupted, before they have a chance to decay.
Applying sealants does not require drilling
Dental drill
A dental drill is a small, high-speed drill used during dental procedures, usually to remove decay and shape tooth structure prior to the insertion of a filling or crown...
or removing tooth structure. The process is short and easy. After the tooth is cleaned, a special gel is placed on the chewing surface for a few seconds. The tooth is then washed off and dried. Then, the sealant is painted on the tooth. The dentist or dental hygienist also may shine a light on the tooth to help harden the sealant. It takes about a minute for the sealant to form a protective shield.
Sealants can only be seen up close. Sealants can be clear, white, or slightly tinted, and usually are not seen when a child talks or smiles.
As with anything new that is placed in the mouth, a child may feel the sealant with the tongue. Sealants, however, are very thin and only fill the pits and grooves of molar teeth.
A sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years. Sealants should be checked at each regular dental appointment and can be reapplied if they are no longer in place.
Role in Oral Hygiene
Dental sealants do not eliminate the need for fluoride treatment. Fluorides, such as those used in toothpasteToothpaste
Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush as an accessory to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it serves as an abrasive that aids in removing the dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing...
, mouth rinse
Mouthwash
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. Some manufacturers of mouthwash claim that antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse kill the bacterial plaque causing cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Anti-cavity mouth rinse uses fluoride to protect against tooth decay...
, and community water supplies also help to prevent decay, but in a different way. Sealants keep germs and food particles out of the grooves by covering them with a safe plastic coating. Sealants and fluorides work together to prevent tooth decay.
Sealants are one part of a child's total preventive dental care. A complete preventive dental program also includes fluoride, twice-daily brushing, wise food choices, and regular dental care.
Sealing a tooth is better than waiting for decay and filling the cavity. Decay damages teeth permanently. Sealants protect them. Sealants can save time, money, and the discomfort sometimes associated with dental fillings
Dental fillings
This page is about types of dental restorative materials. For dental fillings see dental restorationsDental restorative materials are specially fabricated materials, designed for use as dental restorations , which are used to restore tooth structure loss, usually resulting from but not limited to...
. Fillings are not permanent. Each time a tooth is filled, more drilling is done and the tooth becomes a little weaker.
Application
Dental sealants are applied in a dentistDentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
's office. The dentist, dental hygienist or assistant first cleans and dries the tooth to be treated, then applies a slightly acidic solution on the tooth to create a rough surface that helps the sealant bond, and finally paints a thin layer of liquid plastic material on the pits and fissures of the tooth. After application of the plastic liquid, blue spectrum natural light is shone on the applied material for a few seconds to cure the plastic. Alternatively, some brands of sealants self-cure via a chemical process.
After curing, the plastic becomes a hard, thin layer covering the treated portions of the tooth. Despite the heavy pressures effected on teeth during chewing each day, dental sealants may remain effective for five years or longer, although sealants do wear naturally and may become damaged over time. Bacteria and food particles may eventually become entrapped under the dental sealants, and can thus cause decay in the very teeth intended to be protected.
Dental sealants & Bisphenol A
In recent years, Bisphenol ABisphenol A
Bisphenol A is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, along with other applications....
(BPA) and dental sealants have been a point of discussion for researchers, dental providers, and consumers. BPA can be found in saliva in detectable amounts (micrograms) after placement of dental sealants.http://www.bisphenol-a.org/human/dental.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1513299/ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100910093150.htm The Canadian Dental Association
Canadian Dental Association
The Canadian Dental Association, also known as the Association dentaire canadienne in French was founded in 1902. It is a non-profit professional association representing Canada's 18,000 dentists...
http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/faqs_resources/faqs/bpa_faqs.asp and the American Dental Association
American Dental Association
The American Dental Association is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 155,000 members. Based in Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association and promotes good oral health to the public while representing the dental...
http://www.ada.org/1766.aspx have issued statements on their websites regarding BPA in dental sealants.
External links
- Teeth sealants for children and young people informedhealthonline.org
- Resin Dental Sealants and Bisphenol A Oral Exposure bisphenol a.org
- Environmental Health Perspectives. Chemical Exposures: No Dental Dilemma for BPA nlm.nih.gov
- Researchers Analyze Impact of Chemical BPA in Dental Sealants Used in Children. Summary statement of research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine sciencedaily.com
- CDA position statement cda-adc.ca
- ADA position statement ada.org