Author- Dr Aparna Pandya ( Mrs India Vivacious 2019)

A great way to protect teeth from decay are Sealants. They're  a safe and painless way of protecting the teeth. A sealant may be a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the rear teeth. It forms a tough shield that keeps food and bacteria from fixating into the tiny grooves in the teeth and thereby leading to tooth decay.

Sealants are only applied to the rear teeth - the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have ‘pits' (small hollows) and ‘fissures' (grooves) on their biting surfaces. Some teeth naturally have deep grooves  which can  need to be sealed; others have shallow ones which will not need sealing.

The process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only some minutes for each tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then cured to harden usually by shining a bright light onto it.

Sealants will  wear over time, and sometimes it maybe required to  add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it.

The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier by covering all  the small  grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves if  they're  not sealed.

Sealants are  a secure  and painless way of protecting your teeth from tooth decay. A sealant  may be a  protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of  the rear  teeth. The sealant forms  a tough  shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.

The procedure is  totally pain free,  and therefore the  teeth do not feel any different afterwards.

Sealants are often applied as soon  because the  first permanent teeth start to come through. This is often  usually between 6 and 7 years of age.  The remainder are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.

The teeth which are treated with pit and fissure sealants  surface is much easier  to stay  clean and healthy with normal brushing.  Employing a  fluoride toothpaste,  last item  at night and at least one other time during the day, will help  to guard the teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces  cavity  and the number of fillings you might need.

Reevaluation of the applied sealant is very critical step as in some of the cases, it may so happen that there might be some pits that are left out. Hence it is important to ensure all pits and fissures are adequately covered and ensure that the sealant never extends over the marginal ridge of the tooth. Use an articulating paper to prevent occlusal interferences or any high points.