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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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