Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. Sealants are used in various applications, including building construction, dental care, and other industries. Here are some types of sealants and their uses:
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Building sealants: These are substances used to seal, block, or close gaps between building materials to prevent fluids, air, and pests from passing through. They are used to seal joints where dissimilar materials meet, filling any irregularities that might exist between the two surfaces. Sealants can also fill cracks in surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass, and other rigid building materials.
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Dental sealants: These are thin, liquid coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of your back teeth (premolars and molars) to prevent cavities (tooth decay) for many years. Sealants protect the teeth by filling in the grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, making it easier to clean and less likely to develop cavities.
Sealants can be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and which stay where they are applied, or they can be thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary action. Sealants can provide thermal and acoustical insulation, and may serve as fire barriers. They may have electrical properties as well. Sealants can also be used for simple smoothing or filling.
