A Sealants
are a safe and painless way or protecting your children’s
teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic
coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of
the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield
that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the
tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
Q Which teeth should
be sealed?
A Sealants
are only applied to the back teeth – the molars
and premolars. These are the teeth that have
pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. Your
dentist will tell you which teeth should be sealed
after they have examined them, and checked whether
the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some
teeth naturally form with deep grooves, which will
need to be sealed, others with shallow ones which will
not need sealing
Q What is involved?
A The
process is usually quick and straightforward taking
only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly
cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The
liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard – usually
by shining an ultraviolet light onto it.
Q Will my child
feel it?
A No,
it is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel
any different afterwards.
Q How long do they
last?
A Sealants
usually last for many years, but your dentist will
want to check them regularly to make sure that the
seal is still intact. They can wear over time,
and sometimes the dentist needs to add or replace some
sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath
them.
Q How do they work?
A The
sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier, by covering
all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the
tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves.
Q When should this
be done?
A Sealants
are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start
to come through. This is usually between 6 and
7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as
soon as they appear which can be any time between 11
and 14 years of age.
Q How much does
it cost?
A Most
dentists offer fissure sealing. It may be available
on the NHS and is not expensive. But in many
cases it is available only privately. The cost
varies from dentist to dentist, but it is usually good
value.
Q Do my children
still have to clean their teeth?
A Yes. It
is still vital that they do this. The smooth,
sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and
healthy with normal toothbrushing. Using a fluoride
toothpaste will also help to protect your children’s
teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth
decay and the number of fillings your child might need.
Q Whom do I ask
about the treatment?
A If
you would like to know more about the treatment, ask
your dentist or hygienist. They will tell you
if fissure sealing will help your children’s
teeth, and if it is the right time to do it
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