Topcs:
Fissure sealant – a painless treatment that “floods” the biting surfaces of the lateral teeth
What is used to fill a fissure?
Which teeth are filled with fissures?
Is it necessary to seal the fissures?
When is the best time to do fissure sealing?
What does the procedure look like and how long does it take?
How long does a fissure sealing last?
Can I get tooth decay after fissure sealant?
Pediatric dentistry:
Fissure sealant – a painless treatment that “floods” the biting surfaces of the lateral teeth
Caries can occur in any person, at any age, and the predisposing place for its development are the biting surfaces of the lateral teeth. If you run your tongue over these surfaces, you will feel rough indentations, i.e. fissures in which food and bacterial plaque are retained. Although your child takes care of oral hygiene, such fissures are sometimes impossible to clean with daily oral hygiene methods. The bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach the microscopic depressions and remove small pieces of food or dental plaque. This poses a risk of caries and frequent visits to the dentist are necessary.
Visit us to fill the fissures – a completely painless treatment that “floods” the biting surfaces of the lateral teeth, i.e. it creates a “barrier”, which protects the tooth from harmful external influences. The intervention itself lasts a very short time, with complete comfort for young patients.
As caries on lateral teeth occurs at an early age, it is clear that children and adolescents are obvious candidates for such a reliable and effective treatment. Of course, fissure sealant can also be done in adults if the teeth are intact and indicated for this treatment.
What is used to fill a fissure?
The so-called sileri. These are special dental materials, there are different types of them, and in practice, composite-based sealants have proven to be the best. It is important that they are long-lasting, that they have good adhesion to the tooth, and some of them release fluorides, which additionally protects the tooth substance.
Which teeth are filled with fissures?
As a general rule, fissure sealant is performed on teeth with deep indentations on the biting surfaces. It is not strictly determined whether it is done on molars or premolars, on milk or permanent teeth. Fissures on permanent molars or premolars are most often filled, very rarely on milk teeth.
Is it necessary to seal the fissures?
Fissure sealing is of course not necessary for teeth that have shallow fissures available for daily cleaning. You will recognize such fissures by their rounded bottom, pigmentation does not accumulate on them. On the contrary, for fissures that are deep, narrow and difficult to clean, it is recommended that they be sealed.
When is the best time to do fissure sealing?
The answer is simple – as soon as the tooth erupts enough that it is not covered by the gums and that a dry field of work can be provided. It usually starts around the 6th or 7th year of the child when the first molars appear. Fissure sealant can also be done on teeth that have erupted for some time but have not yet accumulated pigmentation. Already pigmented fissures are not sealed because such a procedure could lead to later caries.
Our specialists will assess whether it is necessary to fill the fissures in your child and suggest all the necessary measures to keep the child healthy.
What does the procedure look like and how long does it take?
Fissure sealing is a completely painless method. We show it to children as nail polish or car painting. Anesthesia is not given because there is no tooth preparation. The tooth is cleaned with water and a brush, followed by coating with agents that will enable the adhesion of the tooth sealer. Finally, a sealer is applied and polished. Fissure sealant precedure for one tooth takes about 15 minutes.
How long does a fissure sealing last?
It is true that when applying fissure sealant, the siler is adhered to a very small area of the tooth and should not be expected to be as long-lasting as a classic sealant. However, our experiences have shown that it can last for many years, and it also happens during the entire eight-year schooling of a child.
Can I get tooth decay after fissure sealant?
Of course you can. Sealer protects the tooth from caries only on the biting surface (where it is applied) and has no effect on the lateral surfaces of the tooth. To protect other surfaces, good oral hygiene and flossing are necessary. Of course, there are also regular dental check-ups when our doctors will check whether the sealer has remained intact and whether it still performs the function of protecting the teeth.