Seal of Approval

Dental sealants are a noninvasive, timely procedure, with no drilling involved! They are used to “seal” off the
pits and fissures (grooves) of molars within our mouth. A sealant is a physical barrier that is placed to prevent
or reduce the incidence of caries (cavities or decay). By placing a dental sealant on a tooth, the incidence of pits
and fissures caries is reduced by 86% if the sealant is retained for 1 year.

How is a sealant placed?

Cleansing, Etching & Isolating in Preparation:

◦ First, the surface of the tooth is cleaned with an abrasive material and rinsed.
◦ Tooth surface is dried with compressed air.
◦ An acid etchant, is used to create a microscopically roughened tooth surface,
increasing the area for bonding of the sealant material. (15-30 seconds)
◦ The etchant is rinsed away with water, and the surface is dried once again.
◦ The tooth is now isolated from the moisture within the oral cavity using cotton rolls
or rubber dam.
◦ If saliva encounters the enamel surface, after etching, the bonding effect of the
sealant material to the tooth will be lessened.

Placing the Sealant:

◦ Once the tooth is cleansed, etched & isolated it is ready to be sealed.
◦ The resin sealant material is placed into the grooves. (10 seconds)
◦ It is important to fill the entire groove, while making sure not to overfill the grooves.

Curing the Sealant:

◦ The sealant resin can now be “cured”. (20-30 seconds)
◦ A curing light is applied to the surface of the tooth and initiates a chemical reaction
called polymerization, which is the hardening/setting process of the resin material.
◦ The sealant material is now bonded to the tooth.

Checking the Sealant:

◦ Once the sealant has been cured, checking for “high spots” is needed.
◦ Biting on articulation paper where sealant was placed will identify these areas.
◦ Adjustments to “high spots” of the sealant can be made at this time.
◦ Lastly, the sealant is checked for its retention to the tooths surface.
◦ A properly placed, retentive sealant will provide longevity and prolonged protection
from caries.
Boyd, L. D., Mallonee, L. F., Wyche, C. J., & Wilkins, E. M. (2020). Wilkins’ clinical practice of the dental hygienist (13th ed.).
Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Solutions, C. W. (2021, March 30). Dental sealants for kids: Top patient questions L discovery kids pediatric dentistry. Discovery
Kids Pediatric Dentistry. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://discoverykidsdental.com/dental-sealants-for-kids-faq/