Sealants: a review of the materials and utilization

Abstract

Dental pit and fissure sealants have been shown to be effective in the prevention of dental caries. Currently, sealants are recommended to be placed on teeth that are considered to be "at risk" to develop caries, including teeth that present with incipient enamel lesions. This paper discusses the types of sealant materials available and the placement of the sealant, including appropriate tooth preparation, acid-etching, polymerization, and use of adhesives prior to sealant placement.