Dental Fissure sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your children’s teeth from tooth decay. It is a plastic coating which covers the chewing surfaces of the back adult teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth
Sealants are a very effective preventive therapy against tooth decay. Pits and fissures on the chewing surface of baby and adult molars are normal imperfections. The depth and width of the pits and fissures varies from person to person, and food and germs often become trapped in these areas. A cavity can easily occur because brushing and fluoride are not effective protection against cavities of the pits and fissures.
Sealants are an effective protection against decay of these surfaces because they fill in these areas. The sealant is a liquid that becomes hard like plastic after it is applied to the tooth. Sealant therapy is non-invasive, with no drilling, and doesn’t require a local anesthetic.
How do they work?
- The chewing surface of a molar contains natural pits and grooves (fissures) where dental
- decay occurs most often. The bristles of a toothbrush are too large to reach into some of
- these areas.
- The tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried before applying the sealant.
- The liquid sealant is placed onto the surface of the tooth and flows into the pits and fissures.
- The liquid is then set with an ultra violet light.
- The pits and fissures are now sealed and the tooth surface is smooth and easy to keep clean.
