DentistryLesson 4 of 5 in the course Dental caries and prevention

Dental Sealants: Prevention, Materials, Clinical Use, and Prevalence

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

This lesson explains why dental sealants are used, how tooth decay develops, and how preventive sealing evolved.

The biting surfaces of teeth have natural recesses. Back teeth have pits and fissures—small depressions and grooves—while some front teeth have pits near the cingulum. Food particles and bacteria can collect in these spaces, and their shape can make them difficult to clean with a toothbrush. These areas are therefore particularly vulnerable to tooth decay.

All flashcards

What is a dental sealant?
A protective material placed in pits and fissures to block food and bacteria and make the tooth surface easier to clean.
Why are pits and fissures prone to decay?
Their narrow, recessed shape can retain food and bacteria, and toothbrush bristles may not clean them effectively.
How does tooth mineral balance relate to caries?
Caries develops when acid-related mineral loss repeatedly exceeds mineral gain supported by saliva and fluoride.
What is minimal intervention dentistry?
An approach that emphasizes prevention and early intervention to stop disease before extensive damage or restorative treatment is needed.
Why was acid etching important to sealant development?
Phosphoric-acid etching creates microscopic enamel porosity, helping resin flow into the surface and bond more effectively.

Quiz questions

  1. Why can glass ionomer cement be useful for sealing a partially erupted tooth?Answer: It is less moisture-sensitive than resin and can release fluoride.
  2. What is the most common placement-related cause of sealant failure?Answer: Saliva contaminating the tooth during placement.
  3. What is the purpose of checking sealants during routine dental visits?Answer: To identify damage or loss so the sealant can be repaired or replaced.
  4. After phosphoric-acid etching in a resin-sealant procedure, what should be done next?Answer: Rinse the etch thoroughly and dry the tooth while maintaining isolation.
  5. In oral-health research, what does sealant prevalence measure?Answer: How common sealant use is in a defined population.

Based on the Wikipedia article Dental sealant, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

More in Dentistry

All Dentistry lessons
DentistryDental Caries: Causes, Progression, Prevention, and Treatment5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →DentistryRoot Canal Treatment and Periradicular Endodontic Procedures5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →DentistryDental Restorations: Preparation, Materials, Classification, and Outcomes5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →DentistryWisdom Teeth: Development, Impaction, Assessment, and Treatment5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →DentistryDental Amalgam: Composition, Setting, Clinical Use, and Safety5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →DentistryDental Extraction: Indications, Techniques, Risks, and Healing5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →