What are Fissure Sealants?
What are they about?
An Added protection layer
- Why might I need fissure sealants
- How are they a preventative treatment
- How long do they last?
Dental caries is a multifactorial disease caused by alteration in the composition of the bacterial biofilm (plaque), and release of acid which results in an imbalance in mineral processes associated with the teeth which leads to the formation of caries lesions (decay/holes in the tooth) in baby and adult teeth.
Pit and fissures are the grooves on the biting surface of
the teeth. They help with chewing and eating food.
However, some people can have deep plaque retentive
grooves. This can make them difficult to clean, thereby
causing them to be more susceptible to caries than smooth
surface (cheek and tongue facing surfaces) which may not
be protected as much by fluoride administration (from
brushing)
Pit and fissure caries accounts for about 90% of the
caries of permanent posterior teeth and 44% of caries in
the primary (baby) teeth in children and adolescents.
Fissure sealants effectively reduces caries in teeth with
deep retentive fissures, permanent molars of elevated risk
children, and premolars and primary molars in high-risk
children.
Dental fissure sealants are a simple non invasive dental treatment option to help prevent high risk caries spots from decay. This is done by applying the sealants to the grooves of these high-risk teeth. The sealants flow into these deep spots and seal them from the oral environment. By doing this you stop the food from being stuck in these deep pits and valleys, instead the food and bacteria will sit on top of the fissure sealant which is easier to clean and remove. It is important to note that this is just an added preventative method. You still require good regular dental check-ups, topical fluoride therapy, plaque control via good oral hygiene, and dietary sugar control.
The type of material used can be Resin-based or Glass ionomer cements (GIC) which have a similar caries-preventive effect although resin-based cements are retained longer on average. GIC sealants may be used as a temporary measure when good moisture control is not possible, particularly in partially erupted first permanent molars. Your local oral health practitioner will help you to determine which is necessary for you.
The average sealant loss from permanent molars is between 5-10% percent per year [83]. Regular sealant maintenance is therefore essential to maximize efficiency, maintain marginal integrity, and provide the protection given by optimal sealant coverage.
A study evaluated more than 8000 sealants over a period of ten years; they found that the dental fissure sealant success rate was around 85 percent after eight to ten years, however this had an annual recall and repair program.
There were concerns that partially loss of fissure sealants may leave sharp margins that can lead to a trap food, and without recall and repair may eventually become caries. This is a controversial area and has varied results in the research. The current stance is that a child should not be forbidden from the benefits of a dental fissure sealant even if recall cannot be ensured. Although, maintenance is highly recommended with the possibility of reapplication of sealants, when required, this is considered important to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment.
If you have finished reading all the information on this page, get a certificate for your hard work.
This page provides general information about dental topics. It does not contain all the known facts of this subject and is not intended to replace personal advice from your dentist. If your not sure about anything on this site, contact us or speak to your local oral health practitioner. Make sure you give your local oral health practitioner your complete medical history and dental history.
A selection of the references used:
Naaman, R., El-Housseiny, A. A., & Alamoudi, N. (2017). The Use of
Pit and Fissure Sealants-A Literature Review. Dentistry journal,
5(4), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj5040034
Hiiri A, Ahovuo‐Saloranta A, Nordblad A, Mäkelä M. Pit and fissure
sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in
children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
2010, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003067. DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD003067.pub3. Accessed 06 December 2020.
Beauchamp, J., Caufield, P., Crall, J., Donly, K., Feigal, R., &
Gooch, B. et al. (2008). Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations
for the Use of Pit-and-Fissure Sealants. The Journal Of The
American Dental Association, 139(3), 257-268. doi:
10.14219/jada.archive.2008.0155
© 2020 Happy Dentists.
