How Effective Are Fissure Sealants To Prevent Cavities in Children?

Fissure sealant is a special sticky material that is attached into the small grooves on the teeth to protect them from cavities. Research has shown sealants to be very effective in preventing cavities in molars. CDC research claims that children without sealants have almost 3 times more cavities than children with sealants.

Daily oral hygiene which includes brushing and flossing is the key to prevent cavities. The grooves or fissures can act as hiding places for food and bacteria. These fissures can be very narrow and hard to reach by toothbrush bristles. Trapping food and bacteria in fissures can cause cavities.

American Dental Association states that Fissure sealants can reduce chances of cavities by 80% in molars. Sealants act as a protective shield on molars and premolars. Sealants create a more cleansable area on the teeth. Sealants do not make any changes to the tooth structure.

First sealants for adult teeth may be done at the age of about 6-7 years; as soon as the 6-year/first molars erupt. Sealants can last for a long time. Your dentist will recommend sealants as needed. Regular dental appointments are a great way to stay on top of your oral health.

How are Fissure sealants placed?

Placing sealants on the teeth is a completely painless and fast procedure. Following are the steps for fissure sealant application:

• Thoroughly cleaning the teeth by the dentist or the dental hygienist.
• Application of a gel to roughen up the tooth surface to enhance the bond between teeth and the sealant gel.
• Rinsing off the gel and drying the tooth.
• Application of the sealant.

What is the Right Age and Reason for sealant placement?

• Children and Teens – Cavity prone years of 6-16 years.
• Adults – Tooth surfaces without decay that have deep grooves or depressions.
• Baby teeth – Occasionally done. Only if teeth have deep grooves or depressions and child has higher risk to cavities.

Advantages of Fissure Sealants:

• No tooth structure is removed.
• No numbing is needed.
• This a very useful, painless and faster way to protect teeth from future decay.
• Very Inexpensive.

Sealants are meant to last for a long time. Sealants may be lost over a period. Same procedure will be used to reapply the sealants. Teeth start erupting from 6 years of age and keep replacing primary teeth. Sealants will be done at adult teeth eruption.

Fissure sealant is a very inexpensive method to prevent cavities and protect teeth. The cost of sealants is low. Lincoln Dental Center’s dentists in Coquitlam have made sealant application a routine protocol for kid’s dentistry.

Lincoln Dental Centre Can Help

Have other questions about gum recession? We're happy to help. Feel free to contact us at (604) 552-9500 or by clicking here to get in touch with a Lincoln Dental Centre representative today. We look forward to hearing from you!