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Q What are sealants?
A Sealants are a safe and painless way
or protecting your children's teeth from decay. A sealant
is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the
biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard
shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the
tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
Q Which teeth
should be sealed?
A Sealants are only applied to the back
teeth - the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that
have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. Your dentist
will tell you which teeth should be sealed after they have
examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep
enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally form with
deep grooves, which will need to be sealed, others with shallow
ones which will not need sealing
 Q What is involved?
A The process is usually quick and straightforward
taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly
cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The
liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard -
usually by shining an ultraviolet light onto it.
Q Will my
child feel it?
A No, it is totally pain free, and the
teeth do not feel any different afterwards.
Q How long do they
last?
A Sealants usually last for many years, but your dentist
will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal
is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the
dentist needs to add or replace some sealant to be sure that
no decay can start underneath them.
Q How do they work?
A The sealant forms a smooth, protective
barrier, by covering all the little grooves and dips in the
surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these
grooves.
 Q When should this be done?
A Sealants are often applied
as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This
is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually
sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between
11 and 14 years of age.
Q How much does it cost?
A Most dentists offer fissure sealing.
It may be available on the NHS and is not expensive. But
in many cases it is available only privately. The cost varies
from dentist to dentist, but it is usually good value.
 Q Do
my children still have to clean their teeth?
A Yes. It
is still vital that they do this. The smooth, sealed surface
is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal
toothbrushing. Using a fluoride
toothpaste will also help to protect your children's teeth.
Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number
of fillings your child might need.
Q Whom do I ask about the
treatment?
A If you would like to know more about the treatment,
ask your dentist or hygienist. They will tell you if fissure
sealing will help your children's teeth, and if it is the
right time to do it
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