Fissure sealants of teeth, which are made of colorless plastic or color of teeth, are thin layers of coating used to prevent children’s back teeth from tooth decay. They are set on the chewing surface of the teeth.
The process is called sealing or groove and pit covering, and it is pain-free without desensitizing the teeth. This process will be of great benefit to your child if they have the necessary conditions.
Sealants, who is it for?
Not all children need fissure sealants. Not only this, not all types of teeth need that. If your child has one of the following conditions, better to go for sealing the teeth:
- There are deep grooves on the chewing surface of the molar teeth
- Teeth are at risk of decay
- They have an unhealthy diet, like a great desire for fast foods, processed foods, or sugary drinks like soda
- They are unable to do things themselves in keeping the hygiene of their teeth or they are of exception, like Down syndrome, hyperactivity, and attention-seeking disorders
Dental sealants or fissure sealants can be used for both milk (baby) and permanent teeth. Mostly it is applied to permanent teeth and it is just used with molar teeth.
If your child’s molar teeth have grown and they have one of the above-mentioned conditions, try to apply fissure sealant to their teeth.
Remember that the first primary molar teeth appear when the child is 6 years old and the second ones around 12. Before tooth decay begins, do it for your loved ones.
How fissure sealants are applied to the children’s teeth?
Fissure sealants are made up of composite resin, a dental material that is used in composite bonding treatments. Fissure sealants are applied easily, and they don’t take much time to place.
The steps are explained below for better understanding:
- The dentist first cleans the teeth. If there is any plaque, scaling teeth is done to remove any plaque or residue on the teeth. Checking for any sign of tooth decay will be the next task.
- After locating the decayed parts or later possibilities of decay, the teeth are dried.
- It is necessary to put a gel-like liquid over the surface of the teeth to better apply the sealant to the chewing surface of the teeth. This gel, which is called HA acid, can fit the sealant well on the teeth.
- The gel will do its job. Teeth are again rinsed and dried.
- Depending on the surface of teeth, thin sticky material is used to bond the sealants
- In the next step, the sealants are directly applied to the chewing surface of each tooth
- And finally, to harden the substance, the dentist uses (curing) light. This process of hardening is done really fast.
How long do sealants last?
It is said that sealant will last 9 years. But forget about these 9 years. Ok, why?
It’s like going to a store and browsing through the best shoes to buy. You may ask for advice from the shopkeeper and he says” try these ones, unless you go to the mountain or use them improperly, I will guarantee they can still work after ten years.
Fissure sealants are the same. They may wear out even in their early use if your child:
- Has teeth grinding (bruxism) unconsciously or when awake
- Has acid reflux
- Eats a lot of acidic food
- Eats hard or rough foods
- Or bites into hard foods
How can we protect our kid’s teeth without sealants?
You may hear a lot about sealants everywhere. That isn’t to say every child should have them. As we saw, not every type of tooth and also every child should take one.
Let’s not forget for millions of years of evolution, our ancestors have lived without sealants and they haven’t seen as many problems that we face with our teeth.
With modern periods of our life, followed by nonstandard dietary changes, tooth decay has become a major problem among adults and children, too. However, by changing our diet, we can slow down the decay process of our teeth.
How are the dental sealants removed?
As children grow up, they may not want sealants on their teeth. To remove them, visit the dentist. Let your dentist do their work.
Sealants can easily be removed using a dental drill or laser. Don’t worry, no harm done.
If there is no damage to the material or the person doesn’t want to remove them, removing isn’t necessary.
Useful tips everybody should know on how to prevent tooth decay
There are some important tips listed below to prevent your teeth from decaying in case of not using fissure sealants:
- Go for organic, natural foods, and cut down on eating processed foods since these foods contain a lot of sugar and salt
- Teach your child the basics of oral hygiene
- Use recommended herbal oils from time to time
- Use toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite. It has received considerable attention for tooth remineralization and anti-coronavirus efficacy
- Organize your eating habits
- Stop mouth breathing
- Have regular visits to the dentist
Try to add foods that are high in mineral and vitamin resources which are listed below:
- Healthy fats
- Minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium
Mineral resources mentioned above should be added to the child’s diet even when they use fissure sealants.