Dental sealants also known as fissure sealants are defined as a preventative dental treatment, where a plastic material is placed in the pits and fissures or chewing surfaces of usually the permanent molar teeth at the back of the mouth. These molar teeth are considered the most susceptible teeth to tooth decay due to the anatomy of the chewing surfaces of these teeth, which unfortunately inhibits protection from saliva and fluoride and instead favors plaque accumulation. Fissure sealants are used to prevent or arrest the development of dental decay. Preventing tooth decay from the pits and fissures of the teeth is achieved by the fissure sealants blocking these surfaces and therefore stopping food and bacteria from getting stuck in these grooves and fissures, the sealants also provide a smooth surface that is easier to clean when toothbrushing. Multiple oral health care professionals including a dentists, dental hygienist and dental assistants are able to apply dental sealants to teeth.
Indications
Indications for the use of dental sealants are individual patients or teeth that are at high risk of dental caries.
This includes patients with:
- a history of dental decay
- deep retentive pits and fissures
- early signs of dental decay
- poor plaque control
- enamel defects, such as enamel hypoplasia