Westgate Dental & Implant Centre: Fissure Sealant
Fissure sealant is a coating made from protective and safe plastic material. This is an essential part of preventive dentistry that helps keep cavities from happening.
The chewing surfaces of molars and premolars are coated with a thin protective layer as part of the treatment. These back teeth are more likely to get cavities because they have complicated shapes with pits and fissures that can trap food and bacteria.
Westgate Dental & Implant Centre provides general and specialized fissure sealing services depending on your requirements. This preventive measure helps residents of Maple Ridge avoid further problems with their oral health.
How Our Sealants Work
Fissure sealants from Westgate Dental & Implant Centre protect pits to prevent food debris and plaque from causing caries. Placing dental sealants acts as an impenetrable barrier to protect the tooth from cariogenic bacteria and their acidic byproducts.
- Enamel Protection. They protect the enamel from bacteria’s acidic metabolic products by sealing the occlusal surface.
- Plaque Inhibition. Smooth surfaces reduce plaque retention, bacterial colonization, and occlusal caries.
- Fluoride Release (in fluoride-containing sealants). In addition to its anti-cariogenic effect, this process improves enamel remineralization.
Advantages of Clinic Application
- Effective Caries Prevention. Occlusal surfaces of molar teeth and premolars are much less likely to develop dental caries when seals are applied.
- Cost-Effective. Treatments for caries that involve filling cavities are more expensive than preventative care.
- Non-Invasive. The procedure is painless and takes little time to apply; neither anesthesia nor extensive tooth preparation is required.
Things to Remember
It may be necessary to repair or replace the seals as they wear down with time. They do an excellent job of protecting teeth, but they should not be used in place of regular brushing and flossing. An oral hygienist suggests sealants work best on teeth with deep grooves, not on smooth surfaces or those with shallow pits.
Who Can Benefit From Our Sealants
- Children and Adolescents. Due to the recent eruption of decay-prone permanent teeth (particularly permanent molars). Essential timing for application:
- First Permanent Molars. Usually appear around 6-7.
- Second Permanent Molars. Occur at 11-14.
- Adults with Deep Fissures. People with a history of cavities may benefit from having a seal coating applied in their permanent teeth.
- Patients with High Caries Risk. People with high caries rates, poor oral hygiene, or limited mouth care.
- Orthodontic Patients. May also help orthodontic patients to make oral hygiene management easy
What Makes Up Enamel Sealants
They are made of a synthetic resin material that protects the tooth enamel surface. A resin-based sealant contains bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) or urethane dimethacrylate. These resins are filled with glass or quartz to improve mechanical properties.
Common Type | Details |
Composite Resin | Stronger and wear-resistant due to resin and filler particles. Categories of composite resin based sealants include:
|
Glass Ionomer | Made up of materials like polyacrylic acid and fluoroaluminosilicate glass. Releases fluoride, which can improve enamel remineralization and further protect teeth from decay. |
Polyacid-Modified Resin (Compomers) | These hybrid materials release fluoride and are strong like composite resins and glass ionomer sealants. |
Fluoride-Releasing | Although the fluoride release of modified composite is typically lower than that of glass ionomers, it is still present. |
Set through chemical polymerization, this can be initiated through:
- Light Curing. Activates resin polymerization with a special curing light (LED, UV, or halogen).
- Self-Curing. Uses a chemical reaction between two components to make a filler that sets in the absence of light.
Our Dental Fissure Sealant Procedure
- Cleaning and Drying. We clean the tooth surface with a prophylactic brush or rubber cup to remove plaque and debris. After that, we dry it thoroughly.
- Isolation. A rubber dam or cotton rolls isolate the dentition to prevent saliva contamination from interfering with bonding.
- Acid Etching. Our dentists apply an etching gel with 37% phosphoric acid to the enamel for 15-20 seconds. This roughens the surface to increase mechanical retention.
- Rinsing and Drying. We rinse away the etching gel and dry the tooth again to prepare the surface for the sealant.
- Application of Coatings. Our dentists in Maple Ridge apply the material to the etched surface with a fine brush or applicator to fill all pits.
- Curing. Various types require different curing lights to harden onto tooth surfaces after polymerization.
- Evaluation and Finishing. To ensure the sealant covers the tooth properly and the bite occludes correctly, we remove any extra material so it’s comfortable and functional.
Effectiveness and Clinical Efficacy
Research shows that sealants lower the risk of decay in the back teeth by 80% in the first year after the application of the protective layer. An effective seal depends on its retention and usually protects dentition for up to four years.
Partial retention can prevent cavities, but full retention offers the most protection. Retention rates reach 85% after one year and drop to 50% after five years. Continued use reduces the need for costly and invasive restorative dentistry treatments.
Factors Influencing Longevity and Effectiveness
- Material Type. Filled sealants are more wear-resistant than unfilled ones but require careful occlusal adjustment. A filler made of glass ionomer may have lower retention rates but provide more fluoride release.
- Application Technique. Application isolation and moisture control are essential for bonding. Saliva can compromise its retention.
- Patient Age. Immature enamel may offer better bonding conditions. Best for younger patients with newly erupted molars.
- Tooth Morphology. As the most decay-prone areas of the teeth, deep, narrow fissures are perfect for applying sealant.
- Oral Hygiene Practices. Good oral hygiene reduces plaque and bacterial colonization (particularly on the mandibular teeth), extending filler’s life.
Sealant Maintenance and Reapplication
Regular dentist check-ups are essential to check the condition of the protective layer applied. Reapplication is needed to maintain decay protection.
- Routine Assessments. Our professional will check the bonds for chips, wear, or loss during regular checkups.
- Repair and Reapplication. A compromised coating can be fixed by cleaning the tooth surface and applying a new coating layer. The loss of the coat might necessitate a complete reapplication.
- Patient Education. We encourage patients and caregivers to understand the significance of preventative oral coatings and scheduling oral appointments to improve outcomes.
Seal Your Teeth from Cavities
Pit sealants are an invaluable preventative tool to reduce caries risk on susceptible tooth areas and biting surfaces. At Westgate Dental & Implant Centre, our dental team is dedicated to providing high-quality fissure sealant treatment to protect your oral health.
Experience an effective and affordable preventive measure to help prevent decay for all ages. With our preventative dentistry services, preventing tooth decay and long-term oral health can be achieved. Contact us to find out how our service can help your family’s mouth health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dental sealant affect tooth appearance?
No, our offerings are either clear or tooth-coloured. They blend perfectly with the tooth enamel while preventing dental decay.
Is there anything I cannot eat after getting a sealant?
A pit and fissure sealant is applied without any particular dietary restrictions. However, our team advises patients to follow certain instructions to ensure the material lasts as long as possible and remains intact.
In the first few hours after application, while the seal coating material is still setting and adapting to the surface:
- Avoid Hard Foods: Hard candies, ice, nuts, popcorn kernels, and crunchy snacks like chips or pretzels.
- Steer Clear of Sticky Foods: Chewy candies (like taffy or caramel), gummy candies, fruit snacks, and sticky desserts.
- Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks: Sugary sodas, sweetened juices, and desserts with high sugar content.
Is there a difference between fissure sealants compared to fluoride varnishes?
Fluoride treatments and dental fissure sealants both function to prevent tooth decay, but they do it in different ways. A physical barrier is created by the sealant material applied to the teeth, and fluoride varnish is used to strengthen the enamel and encourage remineralization. The two approaches work well together and can provide the best defence against cavities.