What are Fissure Sealants
It is difficult to keep molars clean when they start emerging in your child since the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach them well.
Fissure sealants are coatings that protect the grooves, pits and fissures of the chewing surfaces in the back molars.
They are a white composite resin or a GIC (glass ionomer cement), similar to a white tooth filling.
Fissure Sealants
What are fissure sealants used for?
Fissures are tiny cracks that can lead to tooth decay. They are often caused by eating sticky or hard foods, grinding your teeth, or biting down on something too hard. Dental sealant forms a covering layer that keeps food, bacteria and plaque from getting stuck in the grooves of the teeth, thus reducing the risk of decay. The procedure can be done by your dentist, dental hygienist here at College Gate Dental Clinic, and they may recommend you getting a sealant if you have large pits in your teeth.
- Non-invasive treatment
- Protect your teeth
- Perfect for Kids
- Quick Procedure
Looking for more information on Fissure Sealants?
Can adults get fissure sealants?
They are often applied as soon as the first permanent teeth start to develop (6-13 years old), and the recommendations include the first molar and the back teeth. Nevertheless, some adults get sealants, especially if there is some tooth decay, as they can help keep future decay in line.
If left untreated, they may cause more severe problems like cavities and gum disease.
What are the advantages of fissure sealants?
The fluoride does not reach into deep pits – they keep food, acids and plaque from sitting in the grooves of the back molars and premolars, prevent decay and cavities, and help you save money, time and the bother of getting a cavity filled.
Prevent Decay
Fissure sealants are a simple but effective means to decrease tooth decay, as they provide extra protection even to those who brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Perfect for kids
Fissure sealants are the perfect solution to keep your kid's teeth in top condition; they act as a barrier to protect your children's teeth from decay.
Quick Procedure
Fissure sealants are applied very quickly
Non Invasive
Fissure sealants do not have any negative effects on your teeth, they are simply applied to protect them
Questions about Fissure Sealants?
Applying them is easy, painless and non-invasive, so there is no need for anaesthetic and normally no drilling. Besides, it can be placed by your dental practitioner, and your teeth will not feel any different after the procedure.
Some dentists will recommend fissure sealants for the first molar teeth, which appears at around 6 years old. The back teeth will come through at about 13 years old, and it should be checked to see if sealants might help. They should be applied to the permanent molars of all children as early after eruption as possible. We assess children based on: their age, when the tooth will fall out, decay history and others.
Dental sealants have been proven to be a safe and effective way of protecting your teeth from decay. The treatment is non-invasive, so you won’t need any drilling or injections – just one quick visit for the procedure with no discomfort whatsoever!
Sealants usually last from 3 to 5 years, but they need to be checked frequently to make sure it is intact and they need to be checked to ensure there is no decay under a fissure sealant. It is usual to see adults with sealants intact from their childhood, but it depends on the quality and how well they have been done. Some of them last as long as 15 years.
They are commonly placed on molars but can be done on any tooth which has a groove or fissure. Lateral incisors often have a deep pit that can lead to decay if they are not sealed in time. However, sealants are commonly used on the back teeth or second molar, where decay most readily occurs.
It is a very quick process, as it takes a few minutes per tooth, and it only requires a blue light to bond and harden the sealant, which “cures” it to set it. So, actually, it is less complicated than having a cavity filling.
Perfect for Protecting your kids teeth
What is the process in getting fissure sealants?
During the procedure, the tooth is carefully cleaned, prepared with a particular solution and dried.
Your dentist will prepare the tooth surface so that the sealant bonds properly, making it “sticky”. He will then apply the liquid sealant to set hard, then he will bond, harden the sealant with blue light, check your bite, and finally polish off any excess adhesive.
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Ready to get Fissure Sealants?
Fissure sealants are a great way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities. They can be applied in the dental office and last for up to 10 years! We will make sure that all those pesky little problems are taken care of before they become big ones. If you don’t yet have one, make sure to schedule an appointment with us today so we can help fix that problem too! We want all our patients’ smiles to look their best at all times. If you need more information, please contact us at College Gate Dental Clinic. We would love to help!
Call us, email us or visit us to discuss your treatment options, we have a wide range of dental experts which you can choose from, with over 20 years of experience, you know you are in good hands.