Small Protection. Big Prevention.
Tooth decay can start early — especially in hard-to-clean grooves on the back teeth. At JP Dental Clinic, we offer dental sealants as a simple, painless way to protect children’s (and adults’) molars from cavities before they start.
Sealants are a fast, effective preventive treatment that adds an extra layer of defense where your toothbrush might miss.
A Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of molars, premolars and any deep grooves called pits and fissures of teeth. More than 75% of dental decay begins in these deep grooves. Teeth with these conditions are hard to clean and are very susceptible to decay. A sealant protects the tooth by sealing deep grooves, creating a smooth, easy to clean surface. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and chipping at regular dental checkup
Who Should Get Sealants?
• Children and teenagers –
Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child's baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it's important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Applying sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. The application steps are as follows:
- ✅ First the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned.
- ✅Each tooth is then dried, and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry.
- ✅An special solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant bond to the teeth.
- ✅The teeth are then rinsed and dried
- ✅Sealant material is carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions. Depending on the type of sealant used, the material will harden with a special curing light. Proper home care, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new sealants.
How Long Do Sealants Last?
Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can replace sealants as necessary.