Fissure sealants can shield your child’s teeth from decay.

The chewing surface of a molar tooth contains natural pits and deep grooves (fissures) where dental decay occurs most often. The bristles of a toothbrush are too large to reach into some of these areas. Because we can’t get to these teeth as easily as the others, bacteria in plaque begins to grown and creates acid that leads to further tooth decay. Dental sealants help solve this problem and are only applied to our back teeth, namely the molars and premolars. They are applied to prevent the build-up of plaque acids on the enamel surface of your tooth and create a hard shield that keeps any food or bacteria from resting in these tiny grooves.

How are fissure sealants applied?

Your tooth in question is first cleaned thoroughly and dried before the sealant liquid is applied. It’s a speedy process that only take a few minutes per tooth using a special liquid sealant solution that flows into every pit and fissure of your tooth. The liquid is then set hard using a special laser light that makes it extremely hard and durable. These are, after all, your hardest-working teeth we are dealing with. Either clear or white in colour, the fissure sealant is smooth once hardened and very easy to keep clean, post-treatment.

Once a sealant is applied, it can last for many years without any further decay to your teeth. The Starbright Dental team will always make sure they are still perfectly in place, when you visit us for your 6-monthly routine check-up. If there is, however, ever an issue, our dentist will either add or replace some sealant just to guarantee no decay can begin forming again under the tooth surface.

Sealants usually last for many years, but your dental team will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dental team need to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it.

Do I need fissure sealants?

A process that is completely pain-free, sealants are typically used for children when their ‘big teeth’ start to come in. This is to ensure that during their cavity-prone years of 6 to 14 years old, their teeth will be wholly protected from decay. If your child has lost most of their ‘milk teeth’, visit our practice and get some advice from one of our caring dentists.