The Application of Dental Sealants

Katherine Jones, RDH, BS

What do we know about dental sealants?

Protective eyewear for patient and operator Basic setup Air-water syringe High-volume oral evacuator Prophy brush Pumice paste Isolation supplies Etching agent Sealant material Applicator syringes Cotton tip applicator Curing light and appropriate shield Low-speed handpiece with contra-angle attachment Articulating paper and holder Round white stone (latch type) Dental floss

Equipment & Supplies

Teeth must have deep pits and fissures & be sufficiently erupted

Select the Teeth

Clean the Enamel Cleanse the tooth with a fluoride free pumice paste to remove plaque and debris from the occlusal surface & rinse and dry the tooth

Isolate the teeth Cotton rollsCotton anglesDental damIsolite

Isolation Products

Cotton Rolls Dri Angles

Better Isolation Products

Dental Dam Isolite

What happens when effective isolation is not achieved?

Etch the Enamel

Acid etchant helps the sealant bond to enamel

Etching tooth

Use the syringe tip to apply a generous amount of acid etchant to tooth surface being sealed, extending slightly beyond the anticipated margin of the sealant

Apply etch for a minimum of 15 seconds but no longer than 60 seconds

Suction etchant before rinsing Rinse with air-water syringe and suction to remove

remaining etch Air dry tooth until tooth surface appears chalky white Do not allow etched surface to become

contaminated

Application of Acid Etchant

Etchant AgentPrecautions

What are some etchant precautions?

Slowly apply a thin layer of sealant material using the syringe tip or a brush

Use an explorer or cotton tipped applicator to increase flow of sealant into pits and fissures and eliminate possible bubbles

Light cure for 20 seconds holding tip of light as closely as possible to the sealant without actually touching sealant

Apply Sealant Material

Sealant Material Precautions

What are some sealant precautions?

Use mouth mirror to check the shine and coverage of the sealant

Use explorer to gently trace the sealant for complete coverage and voids

If the sealant has not been contaminated, additional sealant may be placed to fill in voids

If sealant had been contaminated, re-etch 5 seconds, rinse and dry before placing additional sealant material

Check Sealant

Check interproximal areas with dental floss Check occlusion using articulating paper and

adjust if required. If bite is high, unfilled sealant will wear down in days or weeks, filled sealant material can be adjusted using a stone or bur.

Provide the patient with postoperative instructions

Document the procedure in the patients chart.

Complete Sealant Application