Sealants
Fissures are the grooves that naturally occur on the biting surfaces of teeth. All molars and premolars have fissures, occasionally they also can occur on canines and front teeth.
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If the fissures are deep and narrow, tooth bristles cannot fit inside to clean out the food and plaque. The plaque acid will then eat into the tooth enamel and cause decay.
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Not all fissures are prone to decay. Only the deepest and narrowest fissures are at risk. A fissure is 5 times more likely to develop decay than other tooth surfaces.
Fissures Sealants are polymer coatings that fill the fissures and prevent accumulation of food and plaque.
Studies have shown that fissure sealants are effective in reducing the occurrence of tooth decay. After five years a protected tooth has half the risk of decay compared to an unprotected tooth.
Treatment is painless and non-invasive. It consist of applying a coat of liquid sealant over a cleaned tooth. The liquid sets and forms a physical barrier that stops food, bacteria and plaque acids from contacting the tooth surface.
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The best time to apply fissure sealants is immediately after permanent teeth appear. It is also usual to wait until a tooth is fully erupted before applying sealants. However dentist may suggest sealing partially erupted teeth if early signs of decay are present.
Fissures sealants can be applied to baby teeth as well as used to preserve healthy teeth in adults.
Call us to find out how you can safe-guard your child's teeth from potential decay with sealants.
