Tooth decay is a major problem affecting most people. When it begins to cause problems in the mouth, it simply looks like a black line, seemingly unthreatening, When the dental disease process is allowed to progress in the mouth it can cause bigger problems that is more serious than a dark line on the occlusal or biting surfaces of the teeth. Bacteria will eat the hard tissues of the mouth, breaking it; and when the bacteria has come deep enough to expose and infect the pulp tissues, the patient will begin to feel some pain and sensitivity. If the infection spreads is left on its own course, the pulp can become inflamed, indicating a need for a pulp therapy or an even more unfortunate dental extraction.
The disease process in the mouth usually follows a slow progression, but once the disease is full blown, you are left alone to suffer the consequences. The best way to deal with dental cavities is to completely avoid them and that is where tooth sealants will become very important.
Investigations on the effectiveness of dental sealants began in the 1960s and after a decade, it was approved for use by the FDA, for use on dental patients. They are plastic-like coatings that are meant to seal the deep grooves and fissures on the tooth or teeth, so that food particles cannot accumulate and provide a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Sealants can actually be applied on any kind of tooth, but since the molars have deeper grooves and they are subjected to most of the masticatory forces of the mouth, they are most susceptible to tooth decay and dental infection. For this reason, the molars are most indicated for dental sealants; and although adult teeth can also be applied with sealants, it is most commonly done on the molars of children between the ages of 5 and 12 years.
source: http://www.teethcenter.com/what-is-tooth-sealant/
by Teeth Center Staff
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