Fissure sealants

Fissure sealants are conservative and inexpensive preventative measure available at Preston Smiles.

A fissure sealant is a thin tooth-coloured resin coating applied to the deep grooves of the back teeth to prevent decay from happening. They may also be used to coat weak patches of enamel called hypo mineralised enamel as a protective coating before they become cavitated.

The grooves on your teeth are so tiny, getting food stuck inside; the possibility of cleaning it all out is quite low. The bacteria feed off the sugars in food and drink inside your mouth and produce acids that damage the tooth surfaces. With time and exposure, decay can start to occur in this environment; thus, the use of sealants is quite beneficial. As they are either white or clear, they fill up the small deep grooves, thus reducing bacterial colonisation in the grooves and allows for easier cleaning. It’s a quick application, no pain, no injections or drilling and are safe.

Children’s first permanent molars come through around age six or seven and the second molars around age 11 or 12. As the molars come through, tooth decay is at a greater risk due to them erupting further back in the mouth and the child or adults inability to recognise they must brush more diligently further back. During these time period, parents will need to keep up with their children’s regular dental checkups.