Pit Fissure Sealants

Applying fissure sealants to your teeth in a safe and painless way of protecting them. A fissure sealants is a protective plastic coating that is applied to the biting surfaces of your back teeth (the molars and premolars), which prevents food and bacteria from getting into the small grooves in your teeth. Depending on the depth of the grooves of your teeth, your dentist will decide whether they need sealing or not.

The process of applying sealants to your teeth is usually straightforward, pain-free, and takes a few minutes for our dentist or hygienist to apply. Firstly, the tooth is cleaned thoroughly and dried, with cotton or another absorbent material put around the tooth to keep it dry. Then, an acid solution is put on the surfaced of the teeth that help the sealant bond to the teeth. The tooth is the rinsed and re-dried. Lastly, the sealant is applied to the tooth enamel and allowed to set, sometimes with the aid of a curing light.

Sealants are often applied to permanent teeth as soon as they start to come through, and they can last for many years at a time. Sealants can, too, be applied to baby milk teeth as they are as important at permanent teeth. However, as sealants can wear overtime, your dentist will want to check them regularly to ensure they are still intact and that no decay can start underneath.

If you would like to know more about pit and fissure sealants, ask a member of our team during your appointment.