Fissure sealing for children

Fissure sealing – is a simple and completely painless procedure that allows you to protect your child's baby and root teeth from the development of caries. It consists of applying a special paste to the molars and premolars, which fills the natural grooves and prevents plaque from accumulating in them.

Fissures are depressions on the surface of chewing teeth. They have a tortuous shape and are difficult to clean. As a result, food debris accumulates there and bacteria develop, which over time leads to the appearance of caries.

In addition, the enamel of milk teeth and new roots is characterized by a low degree of mineralization, which makes them vulnerable to infection. Unfortunately, by the age of 10, many children already develop fissure caries.

You can reduce the risk with the help of sealing. It requires only 1 visit to the doctor, but protects the teeth from decay and nourishes them with fluoride for 1-3 years.

Pediatric dentists recommend taking your child for a check-up every six months, starting at 2-3 years of age. This helps teach your child how to brush their teeth properly, as well as to carry out all preventive procedures and, if necessary, treatment in a timely manner.

Fissure sealing is prescribed at different ages.

Indications for the procedure are:

• physiological features of fissures – deep and tortuous;

• incomplete mineralization of permanent molars and premolars (on average 2-3 years after tooth eruption);

• development of carious spots on the surface of chewing teeth;

• caries on the lateral surface of the teeth (sealing is carried out after treatment and filling);

• genetic predisposition to the development of caries.

Milk molars and premolars are replaced by permanent ones at the age of 6-7 years. It is at this time that fissure sealing is usually performed.

To prevent the early development of caries, the child should be shown to the dentist. He will assess the shape, depth of the fissures, and the condition of the enamel, and then determine whether sealing is necessary.

Fissure sealing is a simple procedure. It can be performed without preparation and anesthesia, which allows you to seal all of your child's chewing teeth in one session.

The procedure is performed as follows:

1. Using a special brush and toothpaste, the dentist cleans the teeth of plaque and hard deposits, then dries them with a stream of air.

2. With invasive sealing – prepares and seals the tooth.

3. Then, a solution is applied to the tooth that improves the adhesion of tissues to the sealant, and it is dried again.

4. After that, the fissures are filled with glass-ionomer cement or composite material.

5. Illuminated with an ultraviolet lamp, which ensures the hardening of the material.

6. Finally, the doctor checks that the sealing does not cause discomfort to the patient, if necessary, removes a small layer of sealant and polishes the tooth.

On average, sealing the fissures of 1 tooth takes up to 20 minutes.

Fissure sealing in children is usually performed non-invasively. This procedure is painless and does not cause discomfort.

Its main advantages are:

• reliable protection of teeth from caries for several years;

• easy cleaning of enamel from plaque and food residues;

• no additional load on the tooth or impact on the formation of the bite;

• lower price compared to caries treatment and fillings.

Due to physiological characteristics, chewing teeth in children are the first to be affected by caries. Fissure sealing reduces the risk of infection, according to various sources, by 50-90%.

As for the disadvantages of sealing, among them we can only note the risk of caries development under the sealant if the procedure is performed incorrectly and there is free space between the material and the tooth surface.

At «Oxford Medical» fissure sealing is performed by experienced pediatric dentists. Thanks to this, as well as the use of high-quality materials and high-precision diagnostic equipment, each patient is guaranteed the highest quality of medical care.

We have created all the conditions for effective treatment and comfort of young patients. The clinics have new expert-class equipment and experienced specialists. They use methods of playful adaptation and the formation of trusting relationships, thanks to which they find an individual approach to each child or teenager.

To make an appointment with a pediatric dentist and seal fissures, call our contact center or write to the chat on the website.