Sealants were developed about 50 years ago, but didn't become commonly used until the 1970s. Today, sealants are becoming widely popular and effective; young children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants because in many cases, decay has not set in. Even on teeth where decay is present, sealants have been shown to fight additional damage. The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses some of these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Sealants, which are thin, resin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces, are designed to prevent the invasion of bacteria and other debris into the deep crevices on the tops of your teeth. Sealants are applied by first cleaning the tooth surface. The next step is to etch the tooth with an abrasive substance, which allows the sealant to better adhere. After the sealant is applied, a bright light source is directed to the site to cure the resin material.