1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:04,280 Molars and premolars must last a lifetime. These teeth help us chew our food. 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:06,960 Dental sealants help molars and premolars fight cavities. 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:12,900 A sealant is a non-toxic, thin coating that keeps food and germs off the chewing surfaces of the teeth. 4 00:00:12,900 --> 00:00:16,520 They can protect up to 85% of chewing-surface cavities. 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,200 They may be clear, white, or tinted and they are not noticeable when someone smiles. 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,760 Sealants need to be placed as soon as permanent molars appear in the mouth. 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,820 Start looking for permanent molars when your child is five years old. 8 00:00:27,820 --> 00:00:32,720 The process of sealing teeth is simple. Teeth are cleaned to remove plaque and food debris. 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,520 Next, a gel is applied on the chewing surface and then rinsed with water. 10 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,760 The tooth is dried and the sealant is painted on the grooves of the tooth. 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,820 A special light is used to harden the sealant and smiles, across Florida, stay sunny and healthy. 12 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,280 Sealants can be placed by a dental professional from the Florida Department of Health 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,420 Dental Clinic in your local health office or at school-based programs 14 00:00:52,420 --> 00:00:55,000 or by a dental professional at a dentist's office. 15 00:00:55,460 --> 00:01:00,280 Most insurance plans cover the cost of sealants and sealants can last up to 10 years. 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,220 Florida's School-Based Sealant Program, sealing sunny smiles across Florida! 17 00:01:05,220 --> 00:01:11,580 Learn more at www.flhealth.gov/sealants.