Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay.  Dental sealants are effective in preventing dental caries in the occlusal (chewing) and other pitted and fissured surfaces of the teeth.  Dental sealants were assessed in permanent molars (occlusal and buccal surfaces in lower molars and occlusal and lingual surfaces in upper molars), premolars (occlusal surface), and upper lateral incisors (lingual surface).

Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing dental caries that occur on the surfaces of teeth that have pits and fissures.  Dental sealants are usually applied in a dentist’s office.  Dental sealants last for 4-5 years and can easily be reapplied by your dentist when they do wear off.  Dental sealants represent one of the greatest, but least known advances, of modern dentistry.