Why you need gap sealants

In the past two articles, we looked at the dental tips that one needs to follow during this festive season in keeping his or her teeth healthy.
However, we did not look at the dental clinic approach of preventing tooth decay. One of the key approaches is by use of fissure sealants.

What is a fissure sealant?
A fissure sealant is a material that is applied to cover the grooves or pits and fissures of teeth. Protecting deep pits and fissures reduces the chance of one getting tooth decay on the top of your teeth. The pits and fissures are often very difficult to clean, as the bristles on your toothbrush are often unable to get to the deepest part of the grooves. If the grooves are not cleaned properly, decay will start on the top of the tooth and the tooth will eventually need a filling.

Pit and fissure sealants are designed to specifically offer preventive effects. These sealants occupy the pits and fissures of teeth with a resin material and as they get filled up, the bacteria are not able to go deep into grooves, and this causes less bad bacteria to be present on the tooth. Teeth with fissure sealants are many times less likely to develop decay than those that have not been filled.
Sealants render the pits and fissures easier to clean during brushing and chewing, as food particles do not get trapped as easily when you have deep fissures.

It is always important for you to have or ask about all preventive treatments that can be provided to you and your children as these will help you reduce the burden of dental diseases and the costs associated with them.
However, it is key note that the teeth at the back (molars and premolars) usually have the most grooves. The front teeth (incisors and canines) have shallow pits and fissures and this kind of preventive treatment is not always applicable.

Who should use it?
Children with decay and fillings in their baby teeth
Individuals with deep pits and fissures who also find difficulties in cleaning their teeth
Individuals who are at high risk of developing tooth decay
Individuals with poor oral hygiene.

The writer is a dentist
krdent@yahoo.com