Why Sealants

SEAL INDIANA concentrates on making sealants available for children in Indiana because pits and fissures of back teeth are the most common site for decay. In the United States, 87% of dental decay occurs in pit and fissure areas of molars and premolar teeth. Fluoride has dramatically decreased dental decay on the smooth surfaces of teeth but has limited impact on pits and fissures. Fortunately, sealants can protect these very vulnerable areas of teeth.

Food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces can be removed by tooth brushing, but pits and fissures are places that are extremely difficult to clean because the toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way in to the grooves.

A sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth from plaque and acid. Each tooth takes only a short time to seal, and the process is comfortable; dental sealants do not require any drilling or anesthesia. After a visual examination to determine that the teeth are appropriate for sealants and do not have cavities or fillings, a small amount of liquid sealant material is painted onto the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This material is hardened with the use of a special light so that it bonds to the teeth and provides a hard protective coating on the treated surfaces.

Sealants have been used by dentists for more than 20 years and are endorsed by all of the major dental health associations:

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Academy of Public Health Dentistry
American Dental Association
American Dental Hygienists Association
American Public Health Association
American School Health Association
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
U.S. Surgeons General