Prevention at Its Best – Fissure Sealants
Dental sealants (fissure sealants) are one of the most effective and underutilised preventive interventions in dentistry. A small investment of time and cost can prevent years of decay, fillings, and their attendant problems in the back teeth — where the vast majority of cavities in children and teenagers occur.
Why Are Fissures Vulnerable?
The chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars) are covered with a complex landscape of grooves and pits — the natural anatomy that helps grip and break down food. Unfortunately, many of these grooves are extremely narrow — so narrow that a toothbrush bristle cannot reach to the bottom. This creates the ideal environment for cavity-causing bacteria to colonise and thrive, protected from brushing.
What Is a Fissure Sealant?
A fissure sealant is a thin layer of flowable resin material that is applied to the chewing surface of a molar, sealing the deep grooves before decay can establish itself. The procedure is:
- Completely painless: no drilling, no injection
- Quick: the entire procedure takes minutes per tooth
- Durable: sealants typically last 5–10 years and can be reapplied if worn
The tooth surface is cleaned, conditioned, and dried. The sealant material is flowed into the grooves and hardened with a curing light. The result is a smooth, sealed surface that is easy to clean and highly resistant to cavity formation.
Who Benefits Most?
Fissure sealants are most beneficial when applied to newly erupted permanent molars — ideally within 1–2 years of eruption, before any decay has begun. The first permanent molars erupt around age 6, the second molars around age 12. Sealants applied at these ages provide maximum preventive benefit.
At Smilecraft, fissure sealing is a standard part of our preventive programme for children. It is one of the most cost-effective interventions in all of dentistry.
