What is a fissure sealant? 

Fissure sealants are thin coatings of white or translucent dental material applied to the grooves (fissures) and pits of teeth. 

Just like everyone has unique fingerprints, everyone has different fissures. Some will have deeper pits and fissures than others, which makes them more vulnerable to decay.

Your oral health therapist will let you know which teeth are at risk of future tooth decay and therefore may need to be sealed. 

 

How do fissure sealants help protect your teeth? 

If fissures and pits are deep, removing food, plaque or bacteria by brushing can be difficult. 

The bacteria in your mouth feed off sugary foods producing acid. This acid can result in dental decay.

Fissure sealants fill and seal the grooves to help prevent food or dental plaque getting trapped. Sealant can be placed on baby teeth but are more regularly placed on adult teeth from ages 6-12.

 

How is a fissure sealant applied?

Applying a fissure sealant generally takes 2-5mins per tooth.

The tooth requiring a fissure sealant is thoroughly cleaned.

The tooth needs to be kept dry with cotton rolls and a gel is applied. The gel prepares the surface of the tooth. The tooth is then washed and dried. While keeping the tooth dry, the sealant is placed in liquid form into the pits and fissures. The liquid is hardened with the use of a blue light.

 

Additional information:

The treating dental professional will always complete a thorough examination and x-rays prior to any recommendations or treatment planning, to ensure you’re teeth are decay-free.

Fissure sealants generally last 3-5 years, they make require a repair or a top-up over time.