Think of fissure sealants as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet leftover food, they produce acids that can create holes (cavities) in teeth. After sealants have been applied, they keep those bits of food out and stop bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth—just like a raincoat keeps you clean and dry during a rain shower.

Fisure Sealants Dental House

Who are they for?

Both children and adults can benefit from sealants.  However, the earlier you get them, the better. Your first molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps save time and money in the longterm/

How Are They Applied?

The dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel roughs up your tooth surface so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few moments, your dentist will rinse off this gel and dry your tooth once more before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Your dentist will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant.

Can they Be Placed Over Cavities?

Sealants can be used over areas of early decay to prevent further damage to your tooth. Because some sealants are clear, your dentist can keep an eye on the tooth to make sure the sealant is doing its job.

Book a dental exam with one of our general dentists today if you would like to talk about fissure sealants.