Accepted by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Therapeutics in 1972, sealants are widely recognized by the ADA as a means to prevent cavities and dental decay. Acting as a barrier, the sealant prohibits small particles of food or bacteria from penetrating areas of teeth more susceptible to decay. As long as the sealant stays intact, cavities will not develop in the area covered by the sealant. In fact, research has shown that sealants placed on top of a cavity in the early stages of development can arrest the tooth decay by cutting off the supply of nutrients to the cavity. Even cavities large enough to be seen on an x-ray or dental radiograph do not become worse when a sealant is used.
Sealants are less costly than fillings or other dental procedures.
This procedure makes good financial sense for the consumer. To apply a sealant, the surface of the tooth must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed. A conditioning solution or gel is applied to the enamel surrounding the pits or fissures. After approximately one minute, the tooth is rinsed with water and the site dried. The sealant is applied and allowed to harden.