Teeth sealing

What's this ?

Teeth sealing is a recommended dental procedure to prevent the formation of caries, to be performed as soon as the milk teeth give way to the permanent ones. The sealing of teeth is recommended, in particular, to prevent the development of cariogenic processes in molars. In fact, these teeth are more exposed to the risk of caries since they present numerous and deep furrows, inside which the plaque and bacteria can easily nest and create damage.

As we will see later, the intervention consists in the application, on the masticatory surface of the molars, of a special resin able to protect the dental enamel from possible future cariogenic processes.

The sealing of molars (permanent) for children is a guarantee for the health of their teeth

Why run it?

Those who like to undergo a filling against caries raise their hands ... In addition to the accurate daily dental hygiene and the periodic scaling (dental cleaning), a rather innovative way to prevent tooth decay (thus avoiding obturation) exists, and it is precisely the sealing of teeth. In this way, this procedure can be frightening: in reality, as we shall see, sealing is a fast, completely painless and extremely advantageous operation.

But why put a child on teeth sealing?

First of all, let us recall briefly that the permanent molars erupt around the age of 6; therefore, it would be useless and unsuccessful to perform a sealing in the deciduous molars (milk teeth). These teeth are particularly exposed to the risk of tooth decay, because they are difficult to clean thoroughly with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The child struggles to clean molar teeth accurately because:

Has little practicality in the proper use of toothpaste and toothbrush → poor daily dental cleaning
The molars present deep furrows → the nesting of bacteria, plaque and tartar is favored
Particular position of the molars → difficult cleansing

Furthermore, another very important factor must be considered: the permanent molar teeth appear at an age (around 6 years) in which the consumption of sweets and sugary foods is very high. According to this, it is well understood that the risk of caries is extremely high in children.

Teeth sealing is therefore a very important tool in preventing tooth decay and maintaining the oral health of the child.

Isn't adequate fluoride supplementation enough to strengthen the teeth?

Although it is important and often prescribed, fluoride supplementation is not sufficient to guarantee adequate protection against cariogenic processes. A fluoride supplement is indeed a positive measure to protect the interproximal surfaces * of the teeth and to strengthen the enamel, but it is not able at the same time to guarantee an effective protective barrier at the level of the occlusal surfaces ** (more subject to 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

Sealing of the teeth: intervention

Teeth sealing is a completely painless, simple and rapid procedure, 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.

Below is a description of the standard procedure with which the teeth are sealed:

Selection of the tooth to be sealed
Tooth insulation by means of a special dam (a small patch of latex that, fixed on a tooth, prevents the accumulation of saliva. During the sealing of a tooth, in fact, an eventual excessive collection of saliva can decrease the bond strength of the resin to tooth, thwarting the intervention)
Application of a special acidic substance on the tooth to be sealed, to make it more porous and to facilitate the adhesion of the sealant to the tooth
Waiting, washing and drying of the surface of the tooth to be sealed
Application of the sealing resin using a special brush
Sealant curing: the resin, irradiated with special halogen lamps, adheres perfectly to the tooth groove
Tooth sealing control. In the event of over-filling, it is necessary to eliminate excess resin

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 sealants?

If correctly performed, the total sealing of grooves and fissures of the teeth offers complete protection from the development of caries (in the teeth where it was performed).

How long does a tooth seal last?

A smooth seal guarantees effective protection against caries for decades. If the sealing resin becomes damaged, the procedure can be repeated.

What risks are associated with sealing teeth?

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, until the pulp (pulpitis) is irreversibly damaged. In such circumstances, the tooth can be saved by devitalization; if one does not intervene promptly, 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 same carious lesion.

Are the substances used for sealing the tooth toxic?

In the past, the alleged toxicity of sealing resins has been hotly debated. Today, this hypothesis has been completely denied. The resins used to seal teeth 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 teeth stains, nor does it alter or yellow teeth. The resin applied to the tooth to protect from caries is whitish and passes almost unnoticed.

Is teeth sealing expensive?

The cost is always set by the dentist and generally ranges from € 30 to € 70 per tooth. Given the extraordinary advantages it offers, tooth sealing is not a costly operation.