One of the most common dental issues is tooth decay, however, there is an effective method to prevent it — fissure sealants. This is nothing but a painless treatment that includes shielding and protecting your teeth surfaces, especially molars from decay.
Fissure sealants are fine plastic coatings put on the back teeth’s biting surfaces. There are generally fissures and grooves in between these surfaces that are more susceptible to accumulating food and hence cause decay.
Studies show when sealant and non-sealant teeth sets were compared, the fissure sealant-treated set was 22 times less likely to show signs of decay or cavity.
Typically, your molars (back teeth) have the deepest pits and grooves where the sealants are more applicable. Before you get the sealant treatment, your dentist will assess your oral health and confirm if you need the treatment and which teeth need to be sealed.
Most often, sealants are more effective when applied between 6 to 7 years of age, because that’s when the first permanent molar starts appearing. They can also be provided between 11-14 years of age when other molars start appearing. It’s important to start early if you want to minimize the effects of continual tooth decay.
Don’t worry! It’s a hassle-free straightforward process that takes no more than several minutes.
And that’s about it! No pain, no uncomfortable feeling in your mouth after the procedure either!
As a matter of fact, this thin layer of protection can easily last for several years, however, you must not think that they are permanent because they will wear off eventually. You should remain in contact with your dentist after you get the treatment done and go for regular visits for reapplication or maintenance.
Well, of course! Not brushing is not an option. Although getting sealants makes your teeth; surface smoother and easier to clean with no pits or grooves, you cannot be complacent to daily brushing twice a day and flossing to keep your oral health intact.
If you or your child have not explored the wellness of fissure sealant treatment, you can reach us at Goldfields Family Dental today and see if you need them. You need to understand that a small expense for fissure sealants now means saving thousands of dollars of dental treatment later in life, and of course, sustaining a brighter smile for years! Read More
Our molars (back teeth) can sometimes have deep grooves and fissures, making it easy for food to stick to them. This can make it harder for the toothbrush to reach food debris. As a result, teeth with deep grooves are more prone to dental decay.
Fissure sealants are an effective means to help protect your back teeth from decay. It involves applying a fine plastic coating on the uneven biting surface of the tooth. This seals teeth and makes them less likely to pick up food and easier to brush fully. Ultimately, this will reduce the probability of tooth decay, bad breath and pain in the gums.
The procedure to apply fissure sealants is quick and painless. Your dentist will first assess your teeth to see which of your back teeth may benefit from the treatment. Then, your dentist will give your teeth a thorough cleaning before applying a special solution that will help the sealant attach to the tooth. Subsequently, the resin will be applied to the tooth and then set using a special light. This essentially seals teeth, creating a protective barrier.
Fissure sealants are recommended to anyone who has deep grooves or fissures in their teeth. Very often the treatment is performed on children and adolescents with newly erupted molars. By receiving this treatment, you reduce the chance of decay, preventing the need for more expensive procedures. This means paying for this treatment will save you money in the long term.
Fissure sealants can last several years before they wear off. However, you can get the procedure done again if you desire. Read Less
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