Your dentist may recommend fissure sealants to you or a child, where they clean and seal the grooves of the biting surfaces of premolar/molar teeth to offer protection and reduce the risk of dental decay.
This treatment can be carried out by a dentist or hygienist as part of preventive treatment.
Fissure sealants are clear or white plastic resins, applied to the biting surfaces of back teeth.
Back teeth or molars have deep pits and grooves on the biting surfaces that are difficult to keep clean. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, collects in these grooves and produces acid that breaks down tooth enamel, which can result in the formation of cavities.
Back molar tooth before fissure sealing
After placing fissure sealants on the molar surface
They can help to prevent cavities in the biting surface of back teeth, but will not however prevent cavities forming between teeth. Careful brushing with a fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes twice a day, using dental floss or interdental brushes and having a good diet are still of the utmost importance.
They are applied without the need for local anaesthetic. First the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and a conditioning solution applied. The tooth is washed, dried and the plastic resin is painted into the grooves of the tooth. Some sealants harden on their own, while others harden when exposed to a special light.
In the majority of children and adults they last anywhere from 5 to 10 years. They are routinely checked at dental examinations and hygiene visits. Periodically they might need to be ‘topped up’ as they may wear a little.
Fissure sealants may be offered to all ages. However, dentists often recommend a child has fissure sealants to protect their teeth.
For many children the thought of visiting the dentist evokes feelings of unease and fear. Recognising this challenge, dentist Sarah Mack has founded Little Smiles, a dedicated children’s dental clinic at Elmsleigh House on a Saturday. Sarah and the hygiene team offer warmth, understanding and a gentle approach to delivering preventive dental care and treatment at Little Smiles, including fissure sealants.
