Annals and Essences of Dentistry
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A Brief Note on Dental Sealants and its Procedure

Amir Mounsif^{* *}Correspondence: Amir Mounsif, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Oman Dental College, Muscat, Oman, Email:

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Description

Dental sealants are a preventive procedure that falls under the minimal intervention dentistry. These sealants are a plastic material that is placed in the pits and fissures of molar and premolar teeth in the rear of the mouth, whether they are primary (baby) or permanent (adult). Because of the architecture of the chewing surfaces of these teeth, which prevents protection from saliva and fluoride and instead favors plaque formation, these molar teeth are regarded the most susceptible teeth to dental caries. This method permits preventive and early intervention in order to halt or halt the progression of dental caries before it reaches the final stage of the disease, commonly known as a "hole" or cavitation of a tooth [1].

The specific procedure is determined on the material used, and a proper application technique will improve retention, allowing sealants to persist longer on the teeth. In general, each quadrant is treated separately with a four-handed method and the manufacturer's guidelines in mind. To protect themselves from chemicals and the curing light, the patient should wear safety glasses. After the patient has been prepared, the tooth's surface must be cleansed to allow the etch and dental sealant to make the most contact with the enamel surface [2]. A rubber dam can be used to keep saliva from contaminating the area that needs to be sealed, but this isn't always done, especially with younger children. Resin-based sealants have more difficult time controlling moisture than glass-ionomer sealants. The area has been cleansed and dried.

Resin sealants require a phosphoric acid solution (etch) to produce microscopic porosity into which the sealant material can flow, enhancing retention, surface area, and the strength of the sealant to tooth surface connection [3]. Depending on the product, the etching time can range from 15 to 60 seconds. The tooth must then be properly cleaned and dried for 15 to 20 seconds. The presence of a chalky look on the dried tooth indicates that it has been adequately etched. The etching process must be repeated if the tooth does not have this chalky appearance. Using a disposable device given by the manufacturer, the sealant is next applied to the tooth by carefully inserting the sealant material into the created pits and fissures [4]. To keep occlusal adjustment to a minimum, avoid overfilling the tooth. Prior to curing, the material is left for 10 seconds after insertion to allow the sealant material to penetrate fully into the pores generated by the etching technique. Finally, a curing light is used to solidify the sealant, which normally takes 20 to 30 seconds. As resin-based sealants require a perfectly dry surface until polymerization is complete, salivary contamination of the sealant location is critical.

Conclusion

Fissures and pits sealants are utilized as effective controls. Sealants form a barrier that keeps biofilm from adhering to the occlusal surface. When compared to a traditional dental filling, which may entail a local anesthetic injection and the use of a dental drill, the application of dental sealants is far less invasive and is generally regarded quick and painless. The surgery is completely painless, though the patient may suffer some little discomfort.

References

1. Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Forss H, Walsh T, Nordblad A, Mäkelä M, Worthington HV. Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017(7).

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2. Featherstone JD. Dental caries: A dynamic disease process. Aust Dent J. 2008;53(3):286-91.

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3. Ahovuo‐Saloranta A, Forss H, Hiiri A, Nordblad A, Mäkelä M. Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016(1).

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4. Veiga NJ, Pereira CM, Ferreira PC, Correia IJ. Prevalence of dental caries and fissure sealants in a Portuguese sample of adolescents. PloS one. 2015;10(3):e0121299.

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