Fissure Sealants

The natural structure of teeth is uneven and normal teeth have pits and depressions in them.  These can be on the sides of teeth or they could be on the chewing surface of teeth. Pits and fissures on the chewing surface cause food particles to get entrapped in them and if these remain there for a longer time, bacteria can grow on them and eat into the enamel of the teeth causing them to decay. The main cause of tooth decay in children has been found to be this.

One of the preventive methods to stop tooth decay is the use of dental sealants. Dental sealants are hard inert plastic materials that are applied to the pits and fissures in teeth so that these are filled up and food cannot be trapped there to cause decay. These dental sealants have been widely tested and approved by public health agencies and medical associations as being completely safe for use. The use of dental sealants has shown a marked decrease in the incidence of tooth decay in children.

Since keeping molars at the end of the jaw clean where the tooth brush reaches with difficulty is a slightly difficult task for children. This is the cause for decay of these back molars and preventing the decay by dental sealant treatments Sydney rather than more extensive and expensive treatments after teeth have decayed is a much better option.

Dental sealant treatment can start as early as 6 years of age when the first molars at the back make their appearance. By covering the pits in the molars with dental sealants, the hard to reach molars are protected from decay causing bacteria growing on the chewing surface of the tooth as there are no depressions where food can be trapped. Dental sealants are not visible as they are transparent, white or slightly tinted in color. Since they are applied to the last molars, one cannot see them even when the child laughs.

Dental Sealants treatments Sydney are ideal preventive dental care treatments for children as they are non -invasive in nature and there is no drilling involved. The treatment is simple and takes only a minute or two as it just involves cleaning the surface of the tooth and applying the sealant on to the surface.

Dental Sealants are used as part of a child’s total preventive dental care. A complete preventive dental program includes use of dental sealants, toothpaste that contains fluoride, plaque removal whenever required, careful food choices which includes reduction in sugars and sticky foods, and the most important; regular dental checkup. In Sydney dental sealant treatments for children is available at Sydney Childrens Dentistry.