Fissure Sealant: Some Extra Protection For Your Child's Teeth
Posted on: 30 January 2023
No matter whether they're an adult's or children's dentist, a substantial amount of a dentist's work is preventative in nature. Heading off problems before they can occur is kinder to the patient, offsetting the need for potentially invasive work in the future if any decay or infection went untreated. Of course, this principle only works when the patient attends regular checkups. When it comes to your children's teeth, one such preventative measure that their dentist could suggest is a fissure sealant. But which fissures are being sealed, and what does this really achieve?
Chewing and Pressure
Human molars and premolars are classed as posterior teeth, towards the back of the jaw, and closest to the jaw muscles. These do all your chewing, and subsequently, experience a high degree of pressure. The tops of these teeth are not flat—far from it, in fact. Close up, you'll see that the tops of molars contain a number of grooves and fissures.
Molar Fissures
The outlines of these fissures make them capable of harboring cariogenic oral bacteria (which is bacteria that's capable of causing dental caries, or cavities). It's all too easy for a child to do an inadequate job of getting the bristles of their toothbrush into these fissures. Accumulated cariogenic bacteria can lead to dental cavities—particularly when it's gathered on a part of the tooth under ongoing physical pressure. This is where fissure sealing can be advantageous.
Adding Sealant to the Tooth
After thoroughly cleaning your child's teeth, their dentist will add the sealant onto the biting surfaces of their molars and premolars, covering the fissures. The sealant is usually an ultra-thin transparent resin, although tooth-colored composite resin may also be used. The layer is thin enough so that it doesn't noticeably raise the height of the teeth. Once applied, a dentist may use a special curing light so that the sealant material dries and hardens instantly.
Safely Sealed
Now safely sealed, oral bacteria can't actually accumulate in the grooves and fissures of the tooth. The sealant basically makes the tops of these teeth flat, which makes them far easier to brush. Fissure sealant is not permanent, and your child's dentist will carefully inspect the material during your child's routine checkups. As the material wears away, teeth will once again be vulnerable, but the sealant material can be applied again whenever it's needed.
Fissure sealant is a simple enough process that can drastically improve a tooth's defenses against decay.
For more info, contact a local pediatric dentist.
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