Fissure Sealants as Preventatives
A fissure sealant is a preventive white resin coating that is bonded to the tooth to seal over grooves, fissures, and pits. The aim is to prevent bacteria, and the sugars they eat, from penetrating into these vulnerable, impossible to clean areas of the teeth.
The application of a fissure sealant is quick and painless. It typically begins with cleaning the tooth’s surface, followed by the application of a dental etch. Next, the resin material is flowed into the grooves and set using a blue light.
The lifespan of a fissure sealant is dependent upon the bonding process, exerted on it, and the quality of the tooth enamel it adheres to.
Fissure sealants are most commonly recommended to children in the first few years after the eruption of a permanent tooth. This is when they are at their most vulnerable to decay. However, we will also seal grooves in adult’s teeth if we consider them to be at risk of decay.
- Category:
- Prevention
