Dental Sealants

After conditioning, the sealant resin is bonded into the grooves of the posterior teeth and cured with a special light. The process is quick and painless. The end result is a much smoother surface of the tooth that is very cavity resistant.

Research

A study conducted in 2004 found that 42% of children aged 6 to 19 years had decay in their permanent teeth and 40% of children aged 2 to 8 had decay in their primary (baby) teeth. The study also found that nearly 90% of dental decay was found in the pit and fissure areas of teeth. The study concluded that dental sealants reduced chance of decay in the pits and fissures by 86% after 1 year, 78.6% at two years and 58.6% by year four.

Reference
Beauchamp et al. “Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Pit-and-fissure Sealants.” www.ada.org. American Dental Association, 1 Mar. 2008. Web. 20 Aug. 2015.

Concerns

 

Many people are concerned about BPA in older dental resin materials. All of our dental resins, including those used for sealants, are BPA-FREE.

 

Our Recommendation

Resin dental composites, such as those used for fillings (due to cavities) and dental sealants, have been used for decades and millions are placed each year. There are no known health issues that have been directly linked to them, yet there is a measureable amount of research on problems associated with tooth decay. We recommend dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay in children who are prone to or at high risk of cavities.

Additional Information:

• WebMD – BPA From Dental Sealants, Fillings: Is It Safe?
• American Dental Association – ADA Statement on Bisphenol A and Dental Materials
• American Dental Association – Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Pit-and-fissure Sealants