Will Dental Sealants Change How Your Teeth Look?

A pediatric dentist recommends dental sealants to reinforce tooth enamel. This layer forms a physical barrier between the enamel and harmful elements in the mouth. A dental sealant protects against acids made by oral bacteria. Dental Sealants typically contain clear or tooth-colored resins, so they do not alter the appearance of the teeth.

The application of dental sealants is a non-invasive procedure completed in minutes. This topical treatment is an effective and safe way to help protect children’s teeth from tooth decay.

Dental sealants: What they are and how dentists apply them

Dental sealant material is similar to the material that dentists use to fill teeth, at least in terms of chemical composition. The main ingredient in the sealant is composite resin, the same compound that goes into tooth-colored fillings. However, a sealant is liquid, while dentists use composites with a putty-like texture for bonding. Here is how dentists apply dental sealants to the surfaces of the back teeth:

• The dentist evaluates the biting surfaces of the patient’s teeth to determine if they have already been affected by decay; if the teeth are clear, the dentist cleans and dries the teeth.
• An acidic gel roughens the exterior of the teeth, which improves the bonding with the sealant.
• After a minute or two, the dentist will clean the teeth to remove the etching solution.
• The patient’s teeth are dried once again, and dental sealants are applied directly to the teeth.
• Lastly, the dentist uses a curing light to harden the sealant.

The pediatric dentist will repeat these steps for every molar. No anesthetic is necessary for this painless procedure that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. There are no side effects to protecting teeth with dental sealants unless the child is allergic to the resin. Sealants are also near-impossible to detect for the following reasons.

1. Dental sealant matches the color of the teeth

Like the bonding used for tooth-colored fillings, dental sealant is hard to detect. The material is either white or transparent, meaning that it is nearly impossible to spot with the untrained eye. In the case of tooth-colored sealant, a dentist can mix up a batch that matches the exact shade of the child’s teeth.

2. Dental sealant often goes on the back teeth, which are hard to see

The primary role of a dental sealant is to prevent the biting surfaces of the molars from harboring food particles and bacteria. Sealant is liquid, and it sits right in the grooves in the molars, just like water would settle in a trough. As a result, the material blends into the surface of the molars, making it near-impossible to spot. After the dentist cures the sealant, it becomes an extension of the child’s molars.