What is a dental fissure sealant?
Dental fissure sealants are a plastic material that is placed on the occlusal (biting surface) surface of permanent premolars and molars to prevent bacteria and acid wear from causing decay.
Regular brushing and flossing helps remove plaque and food debris from smooth surfaces, but can sometimes can be missed in the deep grooves on the biting surfaces. Fluoride is one of the main components of the dental sealants we use at JVR Dental. The fluoride gets released into the deep grooves of the permanent premolars and molars which helps with re-calcification (making the tooth structure strong) of the enamel and prevent tooth decay.
We commonly place dental sealants as a preventative measure on children as soon as the molars and premolars are fully erupted through the gums. The dental fissure sealants help to prevent decay on their permanent teeth. Adults can also benefit from placing dental sealants on permanent molars that have severe anatomy on the biting surfaces (very groovy teeth) and do not require fillings.
What are some benefits of dental fissure sealants?
Dental sealants are painless.
No need for drilling or numbing agents.
Prevents occlusal tooth decay.
What can I expect when I’m getting dental sealants at JVR Dental?
Preparation – first, a dental professional will polish the surface of the tooth to remove plaque and food debris from the occlusal surfaces. The tooth is then isolated and dried with air. Then etch (A tooth shampoo) will be applied to the occlusal surface and then rinsed off and dried.
Application – the sealant material will be applied to the occlusal surface of the tooth with a mini toothbrush and then light cured for 30 seconds to insure it sticks to the tooth.
Evaluation – the dentist will then evaluate the dental sealant and check its structure and occlusion.
Source: https://www.jvrdental.com/blog/fissure-sealants-for-all-ages/