Sealing Out Tooth Decay

Dental sealants are a thin resin coating placed over the chewing surface of the back teeth to protect them from developing tooth decay. Sealants cover the bumpy surfaces and crevices called "pit and fissures". They keep food and plaque from getting trapped in those spaces.

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Tooth Decay

When you eat, bits of food cling to your teeth and form plaque which is a sticky film that builds up on the surfaces of the teeth. Plaque is made of bacteria, which produces an acid when combined with the sugar in the food you eat. If that acid attacks your teeth repeatedly, it demineralizes the enamel and causes tooth decay. Untreated tooth decay can develop into an infection. In most instances Dr. Jacobs can restore the decayed tooth and prevent tooth infections.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and cleaning between your teeth at bedtime nightly to remove plaque will prevent tooth decay. Unfortunately, toothbrush bristles cannot get into the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars (back teeth), which allows plaque to collect in these areas. Because these surfaces grind the food we eat, these areas are at risk of developing tooth decay. Sealants reduce that risk by preventing food and plaque from collecting in the pits and fissures.

Dr. Jacobs applies sealants to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth filling in the pits and fissures to provide a protective covering (a barrier to bacteria) over the tooth surface.

The application of dental sealants is a quick and easy procedure that does not cause any discomfort. Sealants are durable and stand up to daily chewing forces for up to 20 years.

Please encourage your child to avoid chewing on ice or hard candy (i.e. suckers, peppermints, jaw breakers, hard popcorn kernels). These things not only chip off your sealants but they can also fracture your teeth. Fractured areas of the tooth are prone to tooth decay.

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