Thursday September 3, 1998
Dear Dr. Mady: I have three children between the ages of 6and 13 and our hygienist recently recommended sealants on some of their teeth. What exactly are they and what can they do for my kids? --Diana in Belle River

Dear Diana:

The most important weapons for you and your kids against tooth decay is proper brushing and flossing.

To supplement your regular hygiene habits, your dentist or hygienist can apply a coat of resin or plastic material, called a sealant, to the biting surface of your children's back teeth. This coating fills in the pits and grooves of the teeth and acts as a barrier between the teeth and bacteria that live in the mouth.

Without this protection, sugars that combine with the bacteria to form a sticky layer of plaque may adhere to the tooth surfaces, and it is sometimes impossible for even a toothbrush to remove it from the natural grooves on teeth.

If not removed or combatted in some way, this plaque can eat away at the enamel and lead to destructive tooth decay.

It is very easy to have sealants applied and they can be done in a matter of minutes. They are most effective in preventing cavities in children with newly formed permanent molars and pre-molars. (The two teeth immediately in front of the molars and behind the cuspids or eye teeth.)

Sealants can decrease the formation of decay in the teeth of adults as well.

Basically, think of sealants as a preventative measure that can reduce the need for restorative dentistry and more costly dental treatment.
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This column is reprinted with the permission of the author and The Windsor Star. "Ask the Dentist" is written by Windsor dentist (and ECDS member), Dr. David Mady Jr.. The column appears the first Thursday of each month in the Windsor Star. Readers with questions can write to "Ask The Dentist", c/o The Windsor Star, 167 Ferry St., Windsor Ontario, N9A 4M5