Pit and Fissure sealants

                              

Pit and Fissure sealants

The sealing of fissures and pits is the preventive/therapeutic closing of the chewing surface (that is particularly vulnerable to caries) with a highly fluid synthetic compound.

Patients with a high risk for caries, as well in patients  with healthy teeth with fissures vulnerable to caries, should have a sealing of the fissures and pits done early.

What are pits and fissures?

The top surfaces of your teeth - where the chewing takes place - aren't smooth and flat. They are cris-crossed with tiny hills and valleys - called pits and fissures. These are places where plaque can build up safe from your toothbrush and dental floss. Some of the pits and fissures are so narrow that even a single bristle from your toothbrush can't get deep enough to clean them out.

                                                                 

   The objective is to transform  the chewing surface of the tooth by applying the sealant  into a plaque retentive relief and thus into a surface suitable for prophylaxis.

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How it is applied?
One method of preventing cavities from developing in the pits and fissures is to seal them off with a special varnish called a pit and fissure sealant. If your dentist determines that you need a pit and fissure sealant to help protect your teeth from decay, some special steps are taken to prepare the teeth first.

1. Your dentist will clean the tooth first with small rotating brushes or an abrasive particle polishing paste.

2.Afterwards, the surface of the unprepared dental enamel surface is conditioned with approx. 35% phosphoric acid gel for about 60 seconds on a permanent tooth and for about 120 seconds on a milk tooth.

3. After the thorough spraying and washing of the etching gel for at least 10 seconds and a forced drying, a chalk-like white enamel surface must be visible which will make it easier for the pit and fissure sealant to stick. 

4.Once everything is ready, your dentist 'paints' the sealant right over the pits and fissures on the tooth surface.

5. A special kind of light cures the sealant and makes it ready for use.

6. The whole procedure is quick and painless. Keeping the area dry and away from your saliva during the application is very important. If the tooth gets wet, the sealant might not stick properly. 
                                         

Contraindications to fissure and pit sealing are broad dentin lesions, incompletely erupted teeth, and milk molars, whose second dentition is imminent.