What am I?
What is the charting symbol for sealant
S on occlusal surface
What is etch? How is it used?
A 30–40% phosphoric acid gel to the tooth's surface for 15–30 seconds. The acid dissolves some of the minerals in the enamel and dentin, creating microscopic "tags and tunnels" that improve the bonding resin's ability to adhere to the tooth.
Scrub then rinse thoroughly
What PPE is given to the patient and why?
Dark safety glasses to protect from curing light, sharp objects, and hazardous materials (etch)
What is the 1st step?
Pumice the tooth/teeth being sealed
What chemical do some sealants realease?
Fluoride (FL2)
What is a sealant?
A dental sealant is a thin, protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent cavities
Why is pumice important?
It cleans off any debris and prepares the tooth to be etched.
What precaution is used when using the curing light
Put a sheath on the curing light
Patient wears dark glasses, use orange shield to protect your eyes during use.
Never look directly into blue light
What is the last step?
Check the sealants and make sure they look good
Rinse the patient
What happens to the tooth's appearance after etching?
It turns chalky white
Which teeth are typically sealed?
Molars
What are the 2 types of sealant?
Light cured
Self cured
What material is avoided to spread in the mouth and why?
Etch
It is an acid and is very bitter and can burn the tissues- skin, eyes, oral soft tissue
What is the most important part about placing a sealant?
moisture control- using cotton rolls, rinsing and drying teeth correctly
If you see a void after curing the sealant, what do you do?
Add to the sealant as long as moisture is still controlled
What is its purpose?
1. To prevent food from sticking in grooves
2. To prevent cavities
Name the instruments needed for a sealant. (not materials)
List 5
doctors pack- mirror, explorer, scaler
cotton pliers, air/water syringe, articulating paper holder
bite block (optional)
What can damage a sealant
Moisture
improper curing light strength
fl2 on tooth
Is bond required? Explain yes or no.
No, but when used it decreases the chance of the sealant falling out because of the extra "glue" step.
How long do sealants last?
about 10 years if using bond
5 years no bond
What is the dental code for sealants?
D1351
Name the materials needed for a sealant (not instruments)
List 6
Pumice, etch, bond, microbrush, cotton rolls, sealant, curing light, gauze, hve, saliva ejector
If your sealant looks like a pond instead of a stream, what's the issue?
When they close, their bite will be incorrect and that is too much material to wear away. The patient will need to get the extra sealant drilled off of their teeth. If not, they will get a toothache from hitting too high on that tooth and damage the periodontal ligaments.
Tell me all the steps to placing a sealant
1. pumice and rinse
2. etch and rinse
3. Place cotton rolls, dry tooth
4. Scrub in bond then air thin
5. Place sealant
6. Light cure
7. Check sealant, remove cotton and rinse patient
What must be checked prior to placing sealants and why?
Check for decay!!! Can be damaging if sealant is placed on top of a cavity. Will trap in bacteria inside tooth.
Always check every single tooth right before