What are Fissure Sealants and why is it important?

Fissure Sealants

A fissure sealant is a thin, protective coating made of plastic or some other dental material. It sticks to your molars and hampers the formation of crevices.

Sealants are not alternate for brushing and flossing. Yet, they aid in preventing cavities and tooth decay at a younger age. Sealants can reduce the risk of tooth decay in molars by 80%.

The Centre for Disease Control published a report on the significance of sealants for school-going children (in October 2016). According to the report, school-going children that do not have sealant have approximately three times more cavities than those with a sealant.

How Do Fissure Sealants Work?

Fissure sealants act as a protector. There is a certain type of bacteria that lives in the cavities of our mouth. When these bacteria come in contact with food particles, they release an acid that causes cavities. Fissure sealants prevent food from trapping into the teeth and halts bacterial acid from attacking the teeth.

Who Can Get Sealants?

Fissure sealants are a good option for adults as well as children. Your first molar comes at an age of 6 years and second at 12 years. It’s better to get sealants at an early age to keep your teeth free of cavities. Consult our dentists if you want a fissure sealant for yourself and your family.

How Fissure Sealants Are Applied?

Applying a fissure sealant is not a painful process. The dentist first cleans and drys the teeth. Then, an acidic gel is applied to make the surface of teeth rough, so a strong bond between sealant and tooth is established. The sealant is applied and is hardened by using a special blue light.

Can Fissure Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?

If fissure sealants are placed at the early stages of the formation of cavities, it can prevent further tooth decay. Applying it on a decaying tooth can help to prevent tooth loss. Your dentist can use it on a decaying tooth to check the further decay of your tooth.

Side-effects Of Fissure Sealant

There are no side effects of fissure sealants. Some people might get an allergy, but it’s rare. It is safe to use for dental health.

Is There BPA In Fissure Sealant?

Though fissure sealant has some quantity of BPA (Bisphenol-A), it’s very low. We get even more BPA from dust and cosmetics. The amount of BPA in sealant is low enough to cause no harm to human health.