Dental sealants are a preventive dental treatment aimed at protecting teeth from decay. Typically applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars), sealants are a thin, protective coating made of plastic or other dental materials. These sealants effectively seal the grooves and depressions on the surfaces of the teeth, areas where food particles and plaque often accumulate and are hard to clean. The process of applying a sealant is simple, quick, and painless, involving the following steps:
- Thoroughly cleaning and drying the tooth.
- Applying an acidic gel to roughen the tooth surface to ensure a strong bond.
- Rinsing and drying the tooth again.
- Applying the sealant onto the tooth’s surface.
- Using a special light to harden the sealant.