Pit and fissure sealants – Vaccines for Dental Cavities?
A pit is a small depression on the surface of the tooth. Whereas fissures are grooves that naturally occur on all biting surfaces of the teeth.
A sealant is a clear or opaque plastic material that is applied to the pits and fissures of teeth where decay occurs most often.
IT is a chemically-active liquid material that is introduced into the occlusal pits and fissures of caries-susceptible teeth, that after application, either cure chemically (auto polymerizing), or is cured with a visible light source (light-cured), thus forming a micro mechanically bonded protective layer that prevents the invasion of caries-producing bacteria, and simultaneously cuts off the access of surviving caries-producing bacteria from their source of nutrients.
Why are sealants necessary?
pit and fissure surfaces (that depression or grooves you see on tooth surfaces) are often difficult to clean and thus are at higher risk for caries & this deep and tortuous anatomy lends itself to the entrapment of food debris, plaque formation, and bacterial growth. Moreover, the fissure is so small that a toothbrush bristle will not reach the depth of the fissure.
Thus, even excellent home care efforts may not be successful in cleaning a deep fissure. Henceforth the purpose of the sealant is to provide a physical barrier to occlude or block pits and fissures and to protect them from bacteria and food and decreasing the caries occurrence. Because the sealant obliterates the deeper and more tortuous anatomy, it also facilitates oral hygiene efforts because the sealed tooth is easier to clean.
when or by what age they should get their child’s tooth sealed with sealant?
I would advocate first and for a most regular check-up is required for your child as soon as the first tooth erupts and does follow your dentist’s advice.
He/ she will generally advise you on the placement of sealants as soon as possible following the newly-eruption of posterior (back) teeth because this is the time when they have the greatest probability of decay or when to prevent the continued progression of incipient caries to frank caries.
There are majorly 3 age groups which pediatric dentist consider being highly recommended sealant group: – (1) Age group 3–5yrs – playschool or junior infant class
(2) Age group 6–8yrs, 1st or 2nd class
(3) Age group 11-14 years – 6th or 7th class.
However, sealant placement may be indicated at other times when a given child’s caries risk status is modified or your child has high caries with multiple fillings already on to his multiple teeth hence sealant is the best method we have in dentistry to prevent pit and fissure caries.
. Also Sealing should be considered particularly for children and young people with medical, physical, or intellectual impairment.
Now I would like to tell you
which teeth should be sealed? You might ponder that does my child whole dentition (teeth) needs to be sealed? The answer for this would be that the first and second primary (baby) & permanent molar teeth account for 80% or more of the total caries experience in teeth of children, making these teeth the most important for sealant application. Other teeth, such as premolars, third molars, or the palatal (back) surfaces of incisor teeth, may be considered for sealant application, based on the dentist’s overall assessment of the individual’s caries risk status and a thorough assessment of the tooth surface.
YES, sealants should always be checked on re-examination appointments to be certain that there is no pit or fissure area that is once again caries-susceptible through the wear of the sealant. Although maintenance is essential and the reapplication of sealants, when required, is important to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment.
Dental Sealants usually last for many years, & do seem to be a cost-effective intervention; sealing molars reduces the total cost by preventing the need for more expensive and invasive restorative treatment.
Sealants are considered to be more cost-effective if they are used with children at a high risk of caries and with teeth surfaces susceptible to caries.
Pit and fissure sealants are safe, absolutely painless, and are effective methods of preventing dental caries.
About the author – Dr. Bhavna G. Saraf,
Practicing Pediatric Dentistry Since 2001, Faridabad, Haryana
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