My daughter had four cavities filled on her back teeth. Her dentist wants to use sealants on all her teeth. Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line.
Sealants help prevent decay from forming on the chewing surface of teeth.
It is usually not necessary to remove enamel before the sealant is placed. Generally, the procedure for placing a sealant includes thorough and careful cleaning of the surfaces to be sealed. An acid etch solution is then placed on the tooth and rinsed off. This allows for bonding of the sealant to the tooth. The sealant material is then painted on the surfaces and hardened with a special light.