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Now that everyone with a brain is concerned about global warming, we see a lot more glaciers in the news, even though they are melting faster than ever. Still, we get to see all of those cool cracks, fissures, and crevasses.

That’s kind of what Dr. Egger sees when he looks at the molars of some of his younger patients. It’s nothing the patient has done (it’s just genes), but his or her teeth have deep pits in them. The problem is that food and other debris can get stuck down in these pits/fissures and no matter how good your hygiene you can’t get it out. This leads to decay, which leads to a cavity or worse.

That’s why Dr. Egger recommends the application of dental sealants to the molars of his younger patients.

Like FlexSeal, but not in an infomercial

You’ve probably seen the dude filling gaps in the floor and wall with rubbery FlexSeal in myriad infomercials. Sealing teeth isn’t all that different, but Dr. Egger uses plastic instead of rubber.

Sealants are made of plastic. The teeth to be filled are first thoroughly cleaned. Then the sealant, in liquid form, is painted onto the molars. The liquid sealant flows down and fills up the troughs. Once we are satisfied that we’ve created a seal without gaps or holes, the sealant is cured with a special light, bonding it to the teeth and forming a protective shield on those teeth.

Who should get sealants?

Dr. Egger recommends that children and teenagers with even moderate grooves receive sealants. This protects the teeth during the most cavity-prone years, ages six to 14. Adults can also get sealants on their molars that haven’t developed and decay and are without fillings.

How are sealants applied?

Applying sealants is simple.

1.First, the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.
2.Each tooth to be sealed is dried.
3.An acid solution is put on the chewing surface of each molar to create a rougher surface for the sealant to bond to.
4.This is then rinsed and the teeth again dried.
5.The sealant is painted onto the tooth, and a curing light is used to harden the sealant.

How long do sealants last?

Sealants usually last 10 years or so, but they can last far longer. The important thing is to have them on the teeth during youth.

If you have children, they should probably have their teeth sealed. Call Dr. Egger at 989-773-3560 to make an appointment.

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