Fissure
sealants
Q What are sealants?
A Sealants
are a safe and painless way or protecting your
children’s teeth
from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic
coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces
of the back teeth. The sealant forms a
hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from
getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and
causing decay.
Q Which teeth should be sealed?
A Sealants
are only applied to the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These
are the teeth that have pits and fissures on
their biting surfaces. Your dentist will
tell you which teeth should be sealed after they
have examined them, and checked whether the fissures
are deep enough for sealing to help. Some
teeth naturally form with deep grooves, which
will need to be sealed, others with shallow ones
which will not need sealing
Q What is involved?
A The
process is usually quick and straightforward
taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned,
prepared with a special solution, and dried. The
liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to
set hard – usually by shining an ultraviolet
light onto it.
Q Will my child feel it?
A No, it is totally pain free,
and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards.
Q How long do they last?
A Sealants
usually last for many years, but your dentist
will want to check them regularly to make sure
that the seal is still intact. They can
wear over time, and sometimes the dentist needs
to add or replace some sealant to be sure that
no decay can start underneath them.
Q How do they work?
A The
sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier,
by covering all the little grooves and dips
in the surface of the tooth. Dental
decay easily starts in these grooves.
Q When should this be done?
A Sealants
are often applied as soon as the permanent
teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and
7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed
as soon as they appear which can be any time
between 11 and 14 years of age.
Q How much does it cost?
A Most
dentists offer fissure sealing. It may be available on the NHS
and is not expensive. But in many cases
it is available only privately. The cost
varies from dentist to dentist, but it is usually
good value.
Q Do my children still have to clean their
teeth?
A Yes. It is still vital
that they do this. The smooth, sealed
surface is now much easier to keep clean and
healthy with normal toothbrushing. Using
a fluoride toothpaste will also help to protect
your children’s teeth. Pit and fissure
sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of
fillings your child might need.
Q Whom do I ask about the treatment?
A If
you would like to know more about the treatment,
ask your dentist or hygienist. They will tell you if fissure
sealing will help your children’s teeth,
and if it is the right time to do it
To download these details in pdf form please click
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