Dental Sealants are liquid coatings that harden onto the chewing surfaces of teeth and have shown a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities, even on teeth where decay has begun. The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth. The sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces and are designed to prevent the intrusion of bacteria and other debris into the deep crevices on the tops of teeth.
Sealants were developed about 50 years ago but did not become commonly used until the 1970s. Today, sealants are becoming widely popular and effective; young children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants (especially on molars) because, in many cases, decay has not yet set in. Even on teeth where decay is present, sealants have been shown to fight additional damage.