Dental Sealants: Clinical Considerations for Selection and Placement

Course overview

This basic-level course identifies the clinical indications and contraindications for sealant suitability, effectiveness, and retention. It reviews and compares three generations of dental sealants. The selection of teeth and tooth surfaces to be sealed and the retention of sealants in primary teeth are identified. The steps required for proper sealant application and the reasons for sealant failure are described as well as recommendations for preventing and correcting such failures. The implications and advantages of fluoride use in conjunction with dental sealants are also discussed.