What is a fissure sealant?

   Fissure sealant is a way of  protecting  children's teeth from decay. A sealant is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. By forming a hard shield sealant keeps food and bacteria from getting into the  grooves in the teeth and causing decay.

Which teeth should be fissure sealed?

   Sealants can be  applied to the back teeth ( the molars and premolars). These are the teeth that have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces.

What is involved in a procedure?

   The process is very  quick and pretty much straightforward. The tooth isfirstly  thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special gel, and dried up. The sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard - usually by shining a special light onto it.

Is it painfull ?

   No, it is completely pain free, and the teeth do not feel  different afterwards.

How long will fissure sealant last?

   Sealants can last for many years, but they require to be check regularly to make sure that the seal stays intact. As they can wear over time sometimes the dentist needs to add or replace some of the sealant.

When should my children have this done?

   Fissure sealants can be applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest teeth are usually sealed as soon as they appear. This can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.