SEALANTS
Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings which are applied to the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay.
Most tooth decay in children and adolescents occur on the chewing surfaces
of these back teeth or molars. This is because molars have irregular surfaces
with pits and grooves which tend to trap food and bacterial debris. Sealants
flow into and coat these pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot multiply
and cause decay.
The teeth most likely to benefit from sealant applications are the first
and second molars just after they have erupted and before decay has had
a chance to occur. Generally, the first molars erupt at six years old
and second molars at about twelve years old.
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