What are Fissure Sealants
A dental fissure sealant is a plastic resin expertly bonded to the depression and deep grooves in your tooth’s chewing surface. When sealing a tooth, the gaps of the teeth are filled, and the tooth surface becomes smooth and even.
A fissure sealants’ purpose is to act as a barrier, protecting the enamel on your teeth from invasive plaque, acids, and food debris. Fissure sealants are applied to the harder-to-reach areas of the teeth, such as the molars and premolars. When these back teeth grow, they develop deep grooves and pits, making it impossible to avoid the build-up of food and debris. No matter how well a patient takes care of oral health, some of these areas on teeth are impossible to reach when brushing thoroughly.
These grooves and pit areas are ideal for plaque and food debris to hide and build up, creating cavities. Fissure sealants keep out plaque and debris by forming a thin covering over the pits and grooves, dramatically reducing the risk of long-term damage and decay.
What are Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are a preventative measure to protect you or your child’s teeth. They are typically used to protect teeth from the buildup of excessive food and debris, particularly in the back teeth. The treatment is ideally used in children to prevent this build-up and protect their primary teeth as they continue to develop. In addition, cavities are common in younger people, so fissure sealants are an excellent option for those prone to build-up in their teeth.
Typically dental sealants can last from three to six years, on average. However, it is common for adult patients to still have fissure sealants intact from childhood, especially when they are well-cared for throughout their lifespan. Therefore, if a patient consistently practices good oral health practices, they can expect to see the entire lifespan of their fissure sealants. However, if they are not cared for sufficiently, the sealant will break down much sooner, and patients can expect to be more vulnerable to damage, decay and dental cavities once again.
Who would need Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are used to prevent cavities (tooth decay) in these grooves. They are usually placed on the back teeth as these teeth are more likely to get cavities in the grooves.
You or your child may need fissure sealants if they have deep grooves in their teeth which could cause cavities. The decision to have sealants placed is based on an assessment of your child’s risk of getting cavities. Factors that contribute to this risk include:
- The depth of the groove
- The size of the tooth surface involved
- The number of teeth with grooves
- Your child’s oral hygiene habits
- Your child’s dietary habits
- Your child’s previous history of cavities
Dr. Heraclio is an excellent dentist and I had the best orthodontics experience with him.
Lenise BarbosaSeptember 9, 2020
Who is suitable for Fissure Sealants
01. When should a sealant be applied?
Most dentists will recommend that a sealant be applied to a tooth as soon as it has erupted, as early intervention is key to preventing further decay and damage. In addition, it is common for bonds to be applied to children’s teeth, as this is when teeth are at their highest risk of becoming damaged and decayed.
02. Types Available
Depending on the nature of the application, different materials comprise sealants, including:
Glass Ionomer:
This material undergoes a predominantly acid-based reaction as it is set to the patient’s tooth during application which releases fluoride. The release of fluoride is helpful in further protecting the tooth, significantly reducing the risk of dental decay and strengthening enamel for several years. The glass ionomer material matches your natural tooth colour and is most suitable for applying to a patient’s primary teeth.
Composite Resin:
Like composite bonding treatment, the composite resin material is bonded to the teeth using a curing light, creating plastic and ceramic compound sealant. This hybrid compound also matches well with your natural tooth colour. The main disadvantage of composite resin sealants is that once this resin material wears down, the fissure sealant will no longer protect the tooth against cavities.
Treatment Process
The process of receiving fissure sealants is fast and can be completed in just one visit to our specialised dentist at Frederick Dental Clinic. The sealant application process consists of three steps:
Fissure sealants are direct restorations created on the tooth and separately in a dental laboratory. Before beginning the application, the dentist will first examine and clean the affected tooth and surrounding areas.
An acidic dental gel is placed on the tooth for approximately 30 seconds to begin the treatment. After this time has passed, the gel will open up the grooves and pores within the tooth’s enamel surface to which the sealant will bond.
Right before application, the dentist will remove the gel and clean and dry the tooth again. Following this, the dentist will apply the fissure sealant material directly into the grooves and pits of the tooth. They will then cure the material chemically with the glass ionomer or a specialized dental light composite resin material.
Patients
Advantages of Fissure Sealants
There are many advantages and benefits of Fissure Sealants
- Prevent cavities and damage to the toot’s chewing surface.
- Encourage good dental hygiene.
- Protect the tooth’s barrier long-term.
- Fissures are relatively inexpensive.
- A sealant can last up to six years on most patients who look after their oral health.
- A painless and quick procedure.
- Protect hard-to-reach areas when brushing or flossing.
- Improve oral bacteria and overall health.
- Protect children’s teeth during the developmental stage.
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