What are dental sealants?
Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but it’s not always easy to clean rough and uneven teeth, especially back teeth called molars. Molars are a favourite place for leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria to hide.
To keep these teeth clean, dentist applies thin protective coating on chewing surfaces of teeth. This coating is called a dental sealant. Sealant forms a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
Who Should Get Sealants?
Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better.Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as they erupt in the mouth. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.