What is a fissure sealant?

A fissure sealant is a thin plastic coating which often covers the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealants are applied on healthy teeth by dentists or dental therapists. For children’s teeth fissure sealants are a useful strategy as they seal the deep grooves in back teeth and can prevent decay.

• Back teeth usually come through between the ages of 6- 8 years old. At this time children will be assessed by their dentist at Puresmile Earley Dental & Implants in Reading, and those who are at the highest risk of dental decay will most likely have fissure sealants recommended.
• The procedure only takes a few minutes. The clinician will clean and dry the tooth and then apply the fissure the sealant. The tooth needs to be kept isolated with cotton wool rolls. To set the sealant a blue light is used directly over the tooth. The patient might experience a temporary strange taste and will be able to eat and drink normally. During check-ups, the fissure sealants will be reviewed by the dentist and replaced if necessary.