Fissure sealing: how to protect teeth from caries?

Caries remains one of the most common dental problems in both children and adults. Chewing teeth, molars and premolars, are particularly vulnerable to its development. Their anatomical feature is the presence of grooves and fissures, where food residues easily accumulate and bacteria multiply. Even with careful hygiene, it is almost impossible to completely clean these areas with a brush.

Modern prevention offers an effective solution – sealing fissures. This procedure helps protect teeth from caries at an early stage and keep them healthy for years to come.

What are fissures and why are they vulnerable?

Fissures are natural grooves on the surface of the chewing teeth. They appear during the eruption and final formation of the enamel. For some people, they can be quite wide and shallow, for others – narrow and deep, almost closed. It is in such deep fissures that ideal conditions are created for the accumulation of plaque, bacteria and food residues.

Most at risk:

• permanent first molars in children (erupt at the age of 6-7 years),
• the second molars,
• premolars with pronounced anatomy of the chewing surface.

Even with regular brushing of teeth, the bristles do not penetrate deep into the fissures, and there the development of the carious process begins imperceptibly.

What is fissure sealing?

Fissure sealing is a preventive procedure in which a special protective material (sealant) is applied to the tooth surface to fill microcracks and depressions. The result is a smooth surface that is resistant to caries formation.

There are two main types of sealing:

• Non–invasive (without preparation) - used on healthy teeth, without signs of caries. The sealant is applied directly to the cleaned enamel.
• Invasive (with minimal intervention) – used in cases of suspected initial caries. The doctor carefully removes the pigmented layer of the fissure and then seals it.

The procedure is especially recommended:

• children and adolescents after eruption of permanent molars and premolars (aged 6-14 years),
• adults with deep fissures and an increased risk of tooth decay.

Contraindications are minimal and include:

• already developed caries in the fissure area,
• poor hygiene, when plaque accumulates quickly even after treatment,
• allergic reactions to sealant components (extremely rare).

How is the sealing procedure?

1. Examination and diagnosis – the doctor evaluates the condition of the enamel, the presence of caries.
2. Surface cleaning – the fissures are thoroughly cleaned with a brush and paste.
3. Preparation of the enamel – a special gel is applied (etching), which ensures reliable adhesion of the sealant to the surface.
4. Applying the sealant – the material fills all the recesses.
5. Polymerization – the sealant hardens under the influence of a special lamp.
6. Occlusion control - the doctor checks that the sealant does not interfere with the bite.

The procedure is absolutely painless and takes an average of 10-15 minutes per tooth.

How effective is sealing?

According to clinical studies, sealing fissures reduces the risk of caries by more than 80% during the first 2-3 years after the procedure. The sealant lasts on average from 3 to 5 years, in some cases longer, especially if hygiene is observed.

Regular routine inspections allow you to notice the wear of the sealant in time and, if necessary, re-seal.

Fissure sealing is a simple, affordable and reliable caries prevention measure recommended for both children and adults. It allows you to maintain the health of chewing teeth for many years and avoid the need for complex and expensive treatment in the future.

Prevention is always more effective and cheaper than treatment. Regular visits to the dentist and timely sealing are investments in the health of the entire oral cavity.