What are fissure seals?

We’re so fortunate to be able to support the oral health of many families within the area. As a preventative dental practice, we highly recommend keeping your children’s 6 monthly routine examination and cleans. At this appointment, we not only ensure that we’re removing plaque and calculus, polishing their teeth and flossing between their teeth, we’re also on the look out for any early signs of decay. This means that we can partner with you and your child to start their preventative care journey early!

Often we will identify some signs of vulnerable fissures or grooves, usually on new adult teeth. When this occurs, we recommend a preventative treatment called fissure seals. These seals are thin coatings of white or clear dental material applied to the grooves or fissures of teeth. Molars are the most common teeth that have fissure sealants applied to them. They protect the tooth fissures from tooth decay by keeping food and plaque out of the fissures, effectively ‘sealing off’ these areas. However not all fissures require sealing, our dentists will discuss which teeth may benefit from this procedure and why before proceeding with treatment.

The first permanent molar teeth come through around 6 years of age. The ability of children at this age to effectively clean the fissures of these teeth is limited, therefore sealing these teeth can greatly reduce the risk of tooth decay. Overtime fissure sealants may require replacing as children get older.

Applying a fissure sealant doesn’t usually require any drilling or invasive removal of parts of the tooth, and therefore no anaesthetic which means no needles! After the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, a gel is applied for a few seconds, then the tooth is washed, dried, and reviewed in preparation for the sealant to be applied. The sealant then flows into the fissures of the tooth and is set with a blue light. We then check the bite to ensure it all feels ok, and you’re set to go!

This treatment is often identified at your child’s routine examination, and can usually be completed at the same appointment – which as we know if s bonus for busy families! Dr Simone Faoro is our resident child whisperer dentist – she is kind, compassionate, gentle and a mum herself – so she knows all too well the demands on families busy schedules.

If you’ve been putting off that dental check-up for your busy little people – book one in now before the end of year madness! Call our friendly team on 3348 6661 and we will find a suitable before or after school or day-care time for your family.