Dental Sealants
Many people have deep pits and grooves in their teeth, making them especially susceptible to decay. Children and Adults with poor brushing habits may also develop decay easily on their newly erupted molar surfaces and existing molars and premolars. And although both of these situations may have previously meant cavity trouble at each dental visit, dental sealants now offer a means of successfully protecting molar and premolar chewing surfaces from decay. Recognized by the American Dental Association as a key means of cavity prevention, dental sealants are simply a thin plastic film that can be applied to your at-risk biting tooth surfaces.
Properly applied, dental sealants create an impenetrable physical barrier for small food particles and cavity-causing bacteria, making them nearly 100 percent effective in preventing tooth surface decay and the resulting cavities.
We recommend sealants for all the back teeth (molars and premolars) in children, teenagers and adults. Current research shows that if a child or adult develops one cavity in a groove of a back tooth, the remaining back teeth should be sealed. Sealants will prevent the bacteria in the decayed tooth from spreading to the other teeth.
And although most insurance companies only cover sealant procedures at a minimal level, more and more companies seem to be recognizing this technique's value as a preventive measure that will help reduce future dental costs and more aggressive treatments.