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Despite the most phenomenal brushing, some teeth are prone to cavities simply as a result of their shape. The molars are especially vulnerable because of their shape . Molars, both permanent and primary (baby teeth) typically have many deep grooves in the chewing surface. Just as hair and eye color are different for all individuals, so are the shapes of the teeth. Meaning, some people have deep grooves on their teeth and some people have very shallow grooves. The problem with deep grooves is that food can get trapped at the very bottom of the groove. As the food sits in the groove the bacteria ingest the food and begin to create cavities in the deepest aspects of the tooth surface. Dental sealants fill in the grooves of the teeth so that neither food nor bacteria can hide. Sealants make the grooves shallow so that they can be easily brushed and therefore cavities are unable to form. Sealants are ideal for the permanent molars to protect the chewing surface. Sealants are prevention. Equally important to placing a sealant is to monitor that sealant for any irregularities in its' surface and edges or margins. At Bluefish Dental we are vigilant with the maintenance of our sealants. Specifically, we continue to monitor and maintain our sealants at every checkup. Placing sealants is easy for the the patient. A sealant does not require that the patient is numb. A simple overview of the process is the following: clean the tooth, dry the tooth and paint the sealant over the grooves of the teeth. The sealant hardens immediately, and once hard, it is just like the tooth.
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