What is the process called when pit and fissure sealants polymerize?

The process by which pit and fissure sealants polymerize is referred to as light curing. Light curing involves exposing the sealant material to a specific wavelength of light, typically from a dental curing light, which activates the photoinitiators in the sealant, leading to polymerization. This process results in the material transitioning from a viscous liquid state to a hardened solid state, effectively sealing the pits and fissures in the teeth to help prevent caries.

While self-curing and auto-polymerization are processes that allow some dental materials to harden without light, light curing specifically refers to the method that utilizes light to trigger polymerization. Chemical setting refers to a different mechanism where a chemical reaction, rather than light, facilitates the hardening process. Therefore, light curing is the most accurate term for the way pit and fissure sealants polymerize when exposed to a dental curing light.