Pit and Fissure Sealant

Pit and Fissure Sealant

Dental offices utilize pit and fissure sealants to stop cavities. To protect teeth from plaque, these sealants are painted on their top surfaces. After cleaning the tooth and using a moderate acidic solution to aid in bonding, the pit and fissure sealant is applied and allowed to cure. Although chemical curing is also employed, light polymerization or curing is most frequently used. Pit and fissure sealants can be transparent, opaque, or colored, and they can be made of pure resin, composites, or polymers.

When selecting a pit and fissure sealer, you should also take fluoride release into account because it helps prevent caries, promotes remineralization, and prevents enamel demineralization. The application should be looked into as well; choices include single-use, refillable syringes, and capsules.

What are sealants?

Sealants are a painless and secure method of preventing dental decay on your teeth. A sealant is an application of a protective plastic coating to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant creates a solid barrier that prevents food particles and bacteria from entering the minuscule crevices of the teeth and causing decay.

Which teeth should be sealed?

Only the molars and premolars, which are the back teeth, receive sealants. On their biting surfaces, these teeth have “pits” (small hollows) and “fissures” (grooves). Your dental experts will determine which teeth need to be sealed after inspecting them and determining whether the cracks are deep enough to benefit from sealing. Some teeth come with deep grooves that must be capped, while others have shallow grooves that do not.

Pit and fissure sealants last for how long?

Although your dental team may want to check your sealants frequently to make sure the seal is still intact, sealants typically endure for many years. Over time, they may begin to wear, and the dental team may occasionally need to add or replace some sealant to ensure that no rot can begin beneath it.

Pit and fissure sealants: How do they operate?

The sealant fills in all the crannies on the tooth’s surface, creating a smooth, protective barrier. In these grooves, dental disease can readily begin if they are not sealed.

When should you go for this treatment ?

As soon as the first permanent teeth begin to erupt, sealants are frequently put on. This occurs typically between the ages of 6 and 7. The remainder is often sealed as soon as they emerge, which can happen at any age between 11 and 14.

Do I still have to clean my teeth?

Yes. It is still crucial to carry out this act. With routine brushing, it is now much simpler to keep the smooth, sealed surface clean and healthy. Your teeth will be better protected if you brush them with a fluoride toothpaste at least once during the day. Pit and fissure sealing lowers the risk of tooth decay and the potential need for fillings.