The grooves (pits and fissures) in the biting surface of back teeth are major sites for dental decay.Fissures are natural grooves in the grinding and biting surfaces of teeth, occurring in all teeth, but are more prominent in the first and second molars. They can be hard to clean and are more prone to developing cavities as food can become trapped within the deep narrow fissures.
Acids produced in the plaque can cause dental decay.A fissure sealant is a plastic material applied to the deep grooves / fissures of the molar teeth, which hardens and provides a protective barrier against plaque and other harmful substances.
Unfortunately a toothbrush cannot properly clean all the plaque from these grooves.We usually apply sealants to the first and second permanent molars and appropriate premolars if we feel your child is at risk of developing decay. Application of a fissure sealant is painless and non invasive. The sealant material is tooth coloured, and will be invisible on the tooth.
These grooves can be protected by a hard plastic coating called a pit and fissure sealant.First molars will erupt around the age of 6, and second molars will erupt around the age of 12. These are your child’s ‘adult’ teeth, which they will keep for life, it is important to seal them as early as possible to protect the tooth and prevent decay.
Fuji VII Fissure Sealants
If we believe your child may be at high risk of developing bottle caries, a special sealant is used which contains fluoride, designed to slowly release over time. This is a great preventive treatment as it provides extended protection to your child’s tooth. It creates a strong layer which is more acid-resistant, strengthening the underlying tooth and is very effective in preventing decay.
“If you are a member of a health fund, we will only charge the health fund rebate for children until the age of 12, for regular cleaning and checkups.”
Call (08) 8212 6335 today to find out if fissure sealants are suitable for your child.