How Common Are Dental Sealants for Molars?

Dental sealants are one of the most popular and effective ways a pediatric dentist can prevent cavities and tooth sensitivity, but they are not for every tooth. This article will discuss dental sealants, how they work, and which teeth they serve best.

Dental sealants, the anatomy of a molar, and tooth decay

The biting surfaces of front teeth are narrow, with nooks for bacteria to nest in. Molars, the back teeth, have deeper grooves on their biting surfaces. The design of molars makes them efficient at grinding food into easy-to-swallow portions. They have peaks, grooves, and pits that enable a solid grip on food. The uneven biting surfaces also create sharp cutting edges that help grind food.

However, this effective design comes with a trade-off: function at the expense of easy cleaning. The rough surfaces that enable efficient chewing are also perfect hideouts for plaque, food debris, and bacteria. Some kids have molars with naturally deep grooves and pits that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. Such teeth are especially vulnerable to cavities and tooth decay.

Additionally, dental sealants can correct this vulnerability by shielding the enamel from plaque accumulation, food debris, and bacteria. Sealants have other applications, but protecting the molars is the treatment’s oldest and most common use.

Sealants help prevent tooth decay in young children

Dental sealant bonds to the surface of a tooth, unlike a regular filling that goes inside the tooth. This makes the application of sealant a quick and painless affair that only takes a few minutes. The benefits of applying sealants to the molars of young children include:

• Fluoride-infused sealants reverse early-stage cavities.
• Fluoride-infused sealants strengthen the enamel of children’s teeth, all while fighting bacteria.
• They smoothen rough surfaces of the molars to a certain degree, making the teeth easier to clean.
• They enable the teeth to grow and develop with few complications.
• Parents will spend less money on corrective or restorative dental procedures.

A pediatric dentist will recommend sealants for younger patients to ensure the proper growth and development of their teeth. The following benefits can extend into adulthood.

Sealants protect children’s permanent molars

Permanent molars erupt in two phases, the first between the ages of five and seven. The second set of molars erupts between the ages of 10 and 14. Dentists often recommend dental sealants for preteens as soon as their permanent molars erupt.

Sealants preserve wisdom teeth that do not require extraction

The wisdom teeth are the last molars to grow in and are infamous for causing oral health issues. A dentist might recommend dental sealants for wisdom teeth that grow normally and do not need to be extracted. This usually happens in the late teens, although it can also happen in adulthood. Keep in mind that it is normal for dental sealants to have general wear and tear over time. However, the average patient will not need a touch-up for years.