Sealing is a part of PREVENTION and it is performed between 6 and 8 years of age, during mixed dentition. In general, posterior permanent teeth are sealed, but sometimes also deciduous teeth need to be sealed if a child has shown high cavity predisposition.
When the first permanent molars erupt, they present very DEEP furrows on the chewing surface, in which food residues can are easily get caught and which will quickly lead to tooth decay.
Sealing consists of a treatment by which tooth grooves are cleaned and then “filled” with a specific RESIN, so that food can no longer be trapped in furrows, and the enamel is reinforced.
It is an extremely useful and conservative treatment, but it must be performed following a careful protocol. Duration of sealing varies, generally it is a treatment performed only once in the child’s life because teeth wear in time, and furrows get shallower. Furthermore, children, growing up, learn to clean and care for their teeth more carefully .
