Sealants Flashcards
What are Sealants in definition?
Thin resin coatings bonded to enamel to act as a physical barrier to bacteria
2 types of sealants?
- Some sealants are unfilled resin
- Bis-GMA - Some have filler in the resin
- Quartz or silica
2 types of curing for sealants
- Chemical-cured
- Auto-polymerizing, 2 components must be mixed - Light-Cured
- Photo-polymerizing, 20 second setting
Sealant prevalence on permanent teeth of children is how much
- About 30%
This is Low
How effective are sealants?
- 60-75% caries reduction at 4 years roughly
What is the effect of sealing incipient caries?
- Bacteria cut off from nutrients
- Caries process reduced or arrested
- Bacteria become dormant
***Seal must be a good one
What teeth should have sealants placed?
- Pits and fissures of children’s primary teeth when at risk of developing caries
- Pits and fissures of children’s and adolescent’s permanent teeth when at risk of developing caries
- Pits and fissures of adults’ permanent teeth when at risk of developing caries
What are the first choice of material for dental sealants?
Resin-based sealants
Is there one thing that can be used to diagnose caries?
No, nothing has been shown to be completely diagnostic. Many things such as explorer, radiographs, technology etc.
6 criteria for sealant use?
- Age
- Oral hygiene
- Current caries or recent history
- Diet
- Fluoride history
- Tooth type and morphology
Caries susceptible pits & fissures by tooth type
1st - Lower molars (about 50%) 2nd - Upper molars (35-40%) 3rd - U/L 2nd premolars 4th - Upper laterals & 1st premolars 5th - Upper centrals & lower 1st premolars
Why are deep pits and fissures susceptible to decay?
- bristles too large to clean fissures
- collect food debris & bacteria
Examples of teeth that should be sealed
- Teeth with deep, narrow pits & fissures
- Occlusal surfaces of premolars & molars
- Buccal grooves & pits on Mandibular 1st & 2nd molars
- Lingual grooves & pits on Maxillary 1st & 2nd molars
- Lingual pits on upper anterior teeth
- Recently erupted, susceptible teeth
Teeth not indicated for sealants
- Occlusal or proximal caries present (no proximal)
- Well coalesced pits and fissures
- Teeth caries free for many years
Seal fissures with obvious caries?
No, do not seal
8 steps for application of sealants
- Isolate with rubber dam
- Cleanse with pumice and brush
- Rinse and dry thoroughly
- Apply acid for 20 seconds
- Rinse and dry completely. If contaminated, re-etch 15 sec.
- Apply sealant with brush or syringe
- Cure 20 sec. each area
- Check retention, occlusion, and contacts