Hello team,
Pit and fissure sealant is a dental term lot of people are unaware of. It is a dental treatment often recommended to children and some adults. I will further explain this term using parenthetical, sentence and expanded definition below.
Parenthetical definition
Pit and fissure sealants are clear or tooth-coloured coatings applied on chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Sentence definition
Pit and fissure sealants are plastic coatings applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth, to protect the teeth from getting cavities. Pit and fissure sealant procedure is considered safe and painfree method, which acts as a barrier avoiding food and bacterial plaque to cause cavities in deep groves.
Expanded definition
The impact on Oral Health
Pit and fissures are normal process of teeth development which are often deeper and more prone to getting cavities than smooth surfaces of the teeth. Regular home care with proper brushing and flossing helps remove plaque from smooth surfaces, but toothbrush bristles don’t always reach the bottom of the deep grooves to remove any food or bacteria. Pits and fissures cavities account for 80% to 90% of the total cavities. Sealants help protect these teeth by sealing them.
Candidate for sealants
Pit and fissure sealants are recommended earlier in life as children and teenagers are at higher risk to get pit and fissure cavities, but adults can also get them. Even primary molars (baby teeth) at high risk of cavities can get pit and fissure sealants. Newly erupted molars and premolars with sticky grooves and fissures can benefits from sealants aswell. Any teeth that has stained pits and fissures, but no evidence of cavities and any individuals at high risk of cavities can benefit from pit and fissure sealants.
Advantages
Doing pit and fissure sealant is usually quick, safe and pain free procedure. There is no freezing or drilling required. When applied properly, it will effectively protect the teeth from getting a cavity. Pit and fissure sealants can be repaired or replaced anytime. Cost of pit and fissure sealant is much less compared to having cavity filled.
Treatment and care
Your dentist or dental hygienist will determine the need for pit and fissure sealants during your dental visit. They will assess for any deep pits and fissures high at risk for caries. Other risk factors include personal habits, general health status, medication, lack of fluoride in drinking water, previous history of tooth decay and dry mouth.
Before (stained pit and fissures) and After (pit and fissure sealant coating)
References
- The Pit & Fissure Sealant Procedure. (2019). Retrieved 24 September 2019, from https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/professional-education/ce-courses/ce334/the-pit-fissure-sealant-procedure
- Pit and fissure sealants. (2019). Retrieved 24 September 2019, from https://www.dentalhealth.org/pit-and-fissure-sealants
- Sreedevi, A., & Mohamed, S. (2019). Sealants, Pit and Fissure. Retrieved 25 September 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448116/
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