Fissure Sealants

Fissure Sealants

There are many aspects to preventative dentistry and for your children this can begin as young as the age of 6 when they start to get their first adult molar teeth.  Molars and premolars are used for biting and chewing food thus has a wide biting surface with fissures (grooves).  All molars and premolars have fissures to some degree, if fissures are very deep and narrow, toothbrush bristles cannot fit or reach inside to clean the teeth and remove food and plaque. The trapped food feeds the plaque bacteria which are then able to multiply within the fissures and produce acid. Plaque acids eat into the tooth enamel and cause decay. A fissure is 5 times more likely to develop decay than other tooth surfaces.

To prevent this from occurring we recommend having a sealant, a white resin coating, placed into the fissures.  Many studies have shown that fissure sealants are effective in reducing the occurrence of tooth decay. On a tooth surface with completely sealed fissures, protection is 100%. Over time the sealant can wear down and the protection is reduced.  However even after 5 years the risk of decay is half that of an unprotected tooth.

Having a fissure seal placed is painless, the fissures are cleaned to remove any trapped food or plaque, the surface is lightly acid washed, dried and the resin coating is placed and set.  Once set food and drinks can be consumed immediately.  At your 6 monthly check up and clean appointment y we will check the integrity of the sealant and if necessary repair any lost or worn down areas.

Please note: While an intact fissure sealant offers excellent protection against decay, we cannot guarantee that the treatment will prevent decay on the other tooth surfaces.

Early decay in fissure               Fissure Sealant placed

Image thanks to DentalJuice.com