[contact-form-7 id="761" title="Contact form 1"]
115 Alexandra Park Road, London N10 2DP Book an Appointment
The chewing surfaces of the molar and premolar teeth have fissures or grooves that make them vulnerable to caries (decay). In certain cases, the fissures can be so deep, making almost impossible to clean with a conventional tooth brush in order to remove plaque and food debris from the biting surface.
Fluoride aims to prevent decay and helps protect all the surfaces of the teeth, dental sealants add extra protection for the grooved and pitted areas. These materials are composites fillings or glass ionomer cement, which are used to seal the naturally occurring stagnation areas of pits and fissures, therefore preventing damage from acid attacks and avoiding the onset of dental caries.
As soon as the occlusal or chewing surface of the first permanent molars which are the first permanent teeth to come through into the mouth has erupted completely beyond the gum, dental sealant can be placed on the fissure (groove on the biting surface or side of the tooth). We can also place sealant on the occlusal surface of the 2nd molars and premolars
Dental sealant is a dental prevention for your child’s teeth or during teenage years which help them keep their teeth strong and healthy. Fissure sealant may also be placed on adult teeth as prevention of decay.
The treatment is painless and does not require drilling. Retention is obtained by acid etching the fissures and pits. The tooth is first cleaned, treated and dried before a resin is bonded to the tooth to seal the fissures. The procedure is carried out as a preventive measure on a caries-free tooth, rather than a treatment for an existing disease.
This treatment may last many years. Regular check-ups are required to check sealants which can be repaired or replaced if damaged.