Everyone has hard-to-reach spots in their mouth and brushing doesn't always fully clean those difficult places. What's more, teeth - especially the back ones - are full of pits and grooves. This means that even though your child is brushing her teeth every day, she is still at risk of tooth decay. Using sealants on her teeth gives her an extra line of defense against tooth decay.

Dental sealant is a plastic resin that bonds to the deep grooves in a tooth's chewing surface. When sealing a tooth, the grooves of the teeth are filled and the tooth surface becomes smoother and therefore less likely to harbor plaque. When teeth are coated with sealants, brushing is easier and more effectively protects against tooth decay.

Sealants are usually applied to children's teeth as a preventive measure during the years in which tooth decay is most likely to occur. However, adults - teeth can also be sealed. It is more common to seal permanent teeth rather than baby teeth, but every person has unique needs. Dr. Pacella recommends sealants on a case-by-case basis.

Sealants generally last from 3 to 5 years. However, it is fairly common to see adults with sealants still intact from their childhood. A dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact, so we will be sure to check on your child's sealants at every appointment.