What's this ?
Teeth sealing is a recommended dental procedure to prevent cavities, to be performed as soon as milk teeth give way to permanent ones. Teeth sealing is recommended, in particular, to prevent the development of cariogenic processes in the molars. In fact, these teeth are more exposed to the risk of caries since they have numerous and deep grooves, inside which plaque and bacteria can easily nest and create damage.
As we will see later, the operation consists in the application, on the chewing surface of the molars, of a special resin capable of protecting the dental enamel from any future cariogenic processes.
- The sealing of (permanent) molars for children is a guarantee for the health of their teeth
Why perform it?
- But why subject a child to tooth sealing?
First of all, let us briefly recall that permanent molars erupt around 6 years of age; therefore, it would be useless and fruitless to perform a sealing in deciduous molars (milk teeth). These teeth are particularly exposed to the risk of caries, because they are difficult to clean thoroughly with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
The child struggles to clean the molar teeth thoroughly because:
- It has little practicality in the proper use of toothpaste and toothbrush → poor daily dental cleaning
- The molars have deep furrows → the nesting of bacteria, plaque and tartar is favored
- Particular position of the molars → difficult cleansing
Another very important factor should also be considered: permanent molar teeth appear at an "age (about 6 years) in which the consumption of sweets and sugary foods is very high. According to this, it is well understood how the risk of caries is extremely high in children.
The sealing of the teeth therefore constitutes a very important safeguard in the programs of prevention from caries and maintenance of the health of the child's oral cavity.
- Isn't an "adequate fluoride supplementation enough to strengthen the teeth?"
Although it is important and often prescribed, fluoride supplementation is not sufficient to guarantee "adequate protection from cariogenic processes. A" fluoride supplementation is indeed a positive measure to protect the interproximal surfaces * of the teeth and to strengthen the enamel, but at the same time it is not able to guarantee an "effective protective barrier at the level of the occlusal surfaces ** (more subject to the risk of caries). In order to obtain greater protection from the development of cariogenic processes , fluoride supplementation should always be associated with a dental seal.
Terminology
* Proximal surface: very small space between tooth and tooth
** Occlusal surface: face of the teeth used for chewing
Teeth sealing: intervention
Teeth sealing is a completely painless, simple and quick operation, which requires neither local anesthesia nor the use of a drill.
Tooth sealing involves the application of a special fluid resin (called sealant) directly on the occlusal grooves of the molar teeth.
The standard procedure by which tooth sealing is performed is described in steps below:
- Selection of the tooth to be sealed
- Tooth isolation by means of a special dam (small latex handkerchief which, fixed on a tooth, prevents the accumulation of saliva. During the sealing of a tooth, in fact, any excessive collection of saliva can decrease the bond strength of the resin to the tooth. tooth, nullifying the intervention)
- Application of a special acid substance on the tooth to be sealed, to make it more porous and facilitate the adhesion of the sealant to the tooth
- Waiting, washing and drying of the tooth surface to be sealed
- Application of the sealing resin using a special brush
- Polymerization of the sealant: the resin, irradiated with special halogen lamps, adheres perfectly to the groove of the tooth
- Tooth sealing check. If overfilling occurs, excess resin must be removed
The correct application of the sealing resin makes the surfaces of the teeth inaccessible to attack and engraftment of bacteria, responsible for the onset of caries
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the effectiveness of the sealants?
When done correctly, total groove and fissure sealing of the teeth offers complete protection against the development of caries (in the teeth where it was performed).
What is the duration of a tooth seal?
A well-made seal guarantees effective protection from caries for decades. If the sealing resin is damaged, it is possible to repeat the procedure.
What risks are associated with tooth sealing?
Even if it is a rather simple operation, the sealing of the teeth must always be performed by expert and competent personnel. In fact, in the (remote) case in which pre-existing caries are sealed, the cariogenic infectious process could inexorably continue, up to damage in an irreversible way also the pulp (pulpitis). In such circumstances, the tooth can be saved by devitalization; if it does not intervene promptly, however, an extraction may be necessary.
Despite what has been said, some authors are convinced that "a possible sealing of cariogenic processes in progress can sometimes favor a regression of the carious lesion itself.
Are the substances used for tooth sealing toxic?
In the past, the alleged toxicity of sealant resins has been hotly debated. Today, this hypothesis has been completely disproved. The resins used for tooth sealing are NOT toxic, nor do they release harmful substances in the long term.
Does dental sealing alter the natural color of the teeth?
Dental sealing does not cause tooth stains, nor does it alter or yellow the teeth. The resin applied to the tooth to protect against caries is whitish and goes almost unnoticed.
Is tooth sealing expensive?
The cost is always established by the dentist and generally ranges from € 30 to € 70 per tooth. Given the extraordinary benefits it offers, tooth sealing is not a costly procedure.
Teeth sealing is a recommended dental procedure to prevent cavities, to be performed as soon as milk teeth give way to permanent ones. Teeth sealing is recommended, in particular, to prevent the development of cariogenic processes in the molars. In fact, these teeth are more exposed to the risk of caries since they have numerous and deep grooves, inside which plaque and bacteria can easily nest and create damage.
As we will see later, the operation consists in the application, on the chewing surface of the molars, of a special resin capable of protecting the dental enamel from any future cariogenic processes.
- The sealing of (permanent) molars for children is a guarantee for the health of their teeth
