8 February 2012Fissure sealants are protective coatings for your teeth. Sealants are applied on the chewing surfaces of your molars and premolars. They are applied on the back teeth because these areas are more likely to experience the development of cavities.
Basically, your molars and premolars have crevices and grooves that are referred to as fissures and pits by dentists. Bits from your food may accumulate in crevices, as some cervices are so deep that the toothbrush’s bristles can’t get into them.
Crevices and grooves offer the ideal atmosphere for bacteria to increase and cause cavities but the application of sealants prevents the harmful development of bacteria by covering crevices and grooves in order to keep the food from getting into them.
So, how does your dentist apply sealants?
The application of sealants is quite a quick and painless procedure. It doesn’t involve any kind of removal or drilling in your tooth structure. Once the tooth has been cleaned, the dentist at Brighton Implant Clinic applies a special gel on the chewing surface for a couple of seconds. Later, your tooth is washed off as well as dried, which is followed by the step of painting the sealant on your tooth. The dentist may use light on your tooth for hardening the sealant. It doesn’t take longer than a minute for the sealant to form a defensive shield.
If you’re wondering whether these sealants are visible after application, then you should know that they are just seen up close. These can be white, clear or slightly tinted, and typically not visible when talking or smiling. You may feel the newly applied sealant with your tongue. However, most sealants are extremely thin as they are only meant for filling the pits and grooves of your molar teeth. Sealants mostly last for a period of five to ten years.