As your child’s permanent molars and premolars emerge, it’s quite common for the biting surfaces of these teeth to have deep pits and fissures. A deeply textured biting surface is an evolutionary trait that helped our ancient ancestors more efficiently chew and grind tough foods.

Sometimes, these pits and fissures can be hard to clean with brushing alone. If residual food particles and plaque become trapped in the pits and fissures, it could lead to the development of large cavities, which require large fillings to repair. Later on in life, these large fillings could cause other complications.

If your dentist, Dr. Matt Swan, notices trapped plaque and food particles on your child’s back teeth, they might recommend protecting the biting surface with dental sealants.

Dental sealants in Lehi, Utah, are a durable, plastic resin that Dr. Matt Swan applies to the biting surfaces of the back teeth to create a protective barrier. A special ultraviolet light is used to harden the resin. Even if plaque and food particles become trapped in the pits and fissures, the dental sealants will prevent bacteria from having direct access to the tooth enamel.

Your Mountainland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics team can usually apply the dental sealants after your child’s routine dental checkup. This way we know the area is already thoroughly clean. The resin material is very durable and will take up to two years to be worn away.

If you have any questions or if you are interested in having your child’s back teeth protected by dental sealants, you can call Mountainland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics at 801-766-2111 to schedule an appointment.