What are pit and fissure sealants?
As the name suggest sealants are resin based liquids which set in the crevices (pits/fissures) of the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food, particularly that which can get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable without drilling of any cavity and can effectively reduce the risk of tooth decay for years. This is particularly advised for permanent 1st and 2nd molars.
Pit and fissure sealants are clear plastic substances, which protect tooth surfaces, which are more prone to tooth decay from getting affected. How does the pit and fissure sealants work? Most often, chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth prone to more amount of decay. This is because these teeth have numerous pits and grooves on it. Even if a child brushes carefully, it is difficult to clean the small grooves and pits, which is present on these teeth. Food debris and bacterial products tend to accumulate on these surfaces making them more prone to decay. Pit and fissure sealants are material introduced to fill these grooves so as to resists the accumulation of food debris within it. For how long do the sealants last? Research shows that sealants can last for many years. If a child is capable of maintaining good oral hygiene and can avoid biting hard objects it can retain the sealants for a substantial amount of time. How are sealants placed? The procedure for sealant application is p
Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your child?s teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic /composite 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 How do Sealants Prevent Decay? Sealant material bonds to the chewing surface of the back teeth forming a protective barrier covering the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surface. Decay-causing bacteria normally reside in these grooves and are difficult to remove with even the best of tooth brushing habits. By sealing the grooves, bacteria are not present in this susceptible area and henceprevent decay. Which teeth should be sealed? 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. Sealants are not meant for areas between the teeth or for the front tee
