Dental Pit and Fissure

Sealants
DH-150
DUE:12/19/15
Rubie Acosta
Gina Martinez
Ana Lourdes Rodriguez
Jose Mendez

What are Dental Pit and

Fissure Sealants?
- A dental material usually made from interaction
between bisphenol A and glycidyl methacrylate; such
sealants are used to seal non fused, non carious pits
and fissures on surfaces of teeth.

Types of Dental Sealants

Filled sealants: -Combination of resins, chemicals and fillers
-Filler increases bonding strength and resistance
to abrasion and wear
-Must be checked after placement
with articulating paper and adjusted with a dental
handpiece and appropriate bur.
Unfilled sealants: -Higher ratio of resin to filler material
-Do not need to be adjusted with a dental handpiece.
-Due to high viscosity (rate of flow) of unfilled sealants,
they readily flow into the pits and fissures.
Fluoride Releasing -Have antibacterial properties
sealants: -Greater artificial caries resistance compared to
a non-fluoridated sealant material.
-The fluoride will leach out over a period of time
into the adjacent enamel.
-Fluoride content of the sealant exhausts, and enamel
content greatly increased.

Benefits of Dental Sealants?

Preventative procedure for the following:
-prevent decay in pits and fissures of teeth
-prevents decay in grooves of teeth
-prevent bacteria accumulation in the pits and fissures
-Easy to manipulate
-Cost-effective

Benefits of Dental Sealants cont.

Sealants prevent headaches!!!
-Shorter appointment times
-Prevents cavities and demineralization
-No loss of tooth structure
-Less money spent on dental care
-No local anesthesia needed
-Can last up to 5+ years
-No drilling!!!

Which teeth are suitable for

Dental Sealants?
-Non-cavitated teeth
-Permanent/Primary dentition
-Deep Pit and Fissures
-Newly erupted teeth
-High risk caries patient
-Mainly on Posterior Molars
-Deep occlusal grooves

Contraindication with Sealants

-Shallow fissures
-Shallow pits
-Low caries rate
-Occlusal or proximal caries
-Adults
-Partially erupted teeth
-Fluoride rich enamel
-Sealant based materials on tissue (etch)

Allergic Reaction to Dental Sealant

Materials
-Allergic reactions to dental resin-based materials are
normally type IV hypersensitivity (delayed) reactions
meanwhile type I are extremely rare.
-A small portion of the population is known to be allergic
to acrylate resin, commonly found in dental sealant
materials.
-In dentistry, BPA may be found in some dental sealant
materials.

Allergic Reaction to
Dental Sealant Materials
-Bis-DMA-containing dental materials can release very small
quantities of BPA, because bis-DMA is broken down by salivary
enzymes.
-BPA bind to estrogen receptors of relevant cells impairing the
development and reproductive system.
-BPA has been detected in saliva samples in individuals following
the application of one specific dental sealant material for up to 3
hours after application.
-ADA has stated that BPA is not absorbed by the body, or it may be
present in undetectable amounts in circulation.

Armamentarium needed for

Application of Dental Sealants
-Mouth mirror
-Explorer
-Etch (syringe tip)
-Sealant material (syringe tip)
-Micro brush
-Air water syringe
-Saliva ejector
-HVE
-Dry-angles (cotton rolls, gauze)
-Light cure
-Floss
-Articulating paper

How are Sealants Applied?

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Remove deposits and stains

(polishing cup, air polish,
explorer)
Isolate tooth (rubber dam, cotton
rolls, dri-angle )
Apply Acid etch to pits and
fissure surfaces for 15-60 seconds
(Phosphoric Acid)
Rinse the etch off and Dry the
tooth for 15 - 20 seconds
Apply organic polymer resin to
cover pits and fissures leaving it
for 10 seconds
Use light-cure to cover the tooth
and allow polymerization
averaging 20-30 seconds (use eye
protection)

How long will a Sealant last?

-

Dental Sealants can last

as long as 5 - 10 years
and should be checked
regularly

If a Dental Sealant is no
longer present it can be
reapplied if the tooth is
non-cavitated

How is California Protecting

Kids from Tooth Decay

Prevention Progress in California

*California earned 6 out of 11 points on sealant policies
Sealant
benchmark

2012

2014

Goal

Percentage of highneeded schools with

sealant programs

<25%

<25%

>75%

No restrictions

No restrictions

No restrictions

Yes-but no
recent data

Yes-but no
recent data

Yes-and
submitted recent
data

No

No

No

Unnecessary rules
restricting hygienest
from applying
sealants in schools?
*
Participation in
National Oral
Health Surveillance
System?
Meeting health
People 2010 sealant
objective?

..Prevention Matters ..

Dental Sealants Summary:

-One of the most common conditions among children, and is
largely preventable
-Dental Sealants are plastic coatings placed on the chewing
surfaces ofteeth which can reduce decay by 80
-Continue to be effective for nearly five years
-Sealants are safe and help to shield grooved areas of the tooth
-Endorsed by the American Dental Association

Bibliography
Dental Sealants. (2013, July 10). Retrieved November 6, 2015.
States Stalled on Dental Sealant Programs - Pew. (2015, April 23).
Retrieved November 6, 2015.
School-Based Dental Sealant Programs. (2009). Retrieved November 25,
2015, from http://ohiodentalclinics.com/curricula/sealant/
mod4_1_7.html

Thank You..

..Any Questions..