One method of preventing cavities from developing in the fissures is to seal them off with a special varnish called a pit and fissure sealant. If your dentist determines that you need a fissure sealant to help protect your teeth from decay, some special steps are taken to prepare the teeth first. Your dentist will clean the tooth first, then apply a mild acid solution to ‘etch’ the surface and make it easier for the pit and fissure sealant to stick.
The whole procedure is quick and painless. Keeping the area during the application is very important. If the tooth gets wet, the sealant might not stick properly. Once everything is ready, your dentist ‘paints’ the sealant right over the pits and fissures on the tooth surface. A special kind of light cures the sealant and makes it ready for use.
If you think you may have fissures or have any other questions or issues with keeping your teeth clean and healthy, contact us today to make an appointment to see one of our team.