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Dental sealants, also known as pit and fissure sealants, are a valuable dental treatment designed to safeguard your teeth against decay. Our teeth have recesses and grooves on their biting surfaces, especially the back teeth with fissures and some front teeth with cingulum pits. These pits and fissures are particularly vulnerable to tooth decay due to their propensity for trapping food particles and their challenging-to-clean nature. Dental sealants are a protective measure that involves applying materials to these areas, creating a smooth surface that is easy to clean and maintain. This preventive treatment is especially beneficial for children who are at a higher risk of tooth decay and is typically applied as soon as their adult molars come in.
Tooth decay is the result of an imbalance between mineral loss and gain from a tooth's surface. Bacteria in our mouths ferment food, producing acids that lead to mineral loss, while minerals from saliva and fluoride aid in remineralization. When this balance is disrupted by factors like frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates, poor oral hygiene, and insufficient fluoride exposure, it can result in tooth decay.
The biting surfaces of our back teeth are particularly susceptible to tooth decay due to the presence of grooves and fissures that promote plaque formation and retention.
Fissure sealants are an essential component of minimal intervention dentistry, emphasizing prevention and early intervention to stop or prevent the progression of dental caries before it reaches the cavity stage, where tooth restoration becomes necessary.
Aside from fissure sealants, preventive options for dental caries include education on proper toothbrushing techniques with fluoride toothpaste, the use of fluoride supplements, and the application of topical fluorides on tooth surfaces.
The primary goal of fissure sealants is to prevent or halt the development of dental caries. They achieve this by acting as a physical barrier that shields natural tooth surfaces and grooves, inhibiting the accumulation of bacteria and food particles. Additionally, fissure sealants provide a smooth surface that is easily accessible to saliva, our natural protective factor, and toothbrush bristles during oral hygiene routines.
At Bonavista Dental Centre in Ottawa, our oral health care professionals, including Dr. Andreea Birsila, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, and dental assistants, are trained to apply dental sealants to teeth. These sealants are typically applied to the pits and fissures of primary (baby) or permanent (adult) molars and premolars, as these teeth are highly susceptible to dental caries due to their unique chewing surface anatomy, which makes them less protected by saliva and fluoride, and more prone to plaque accumulation.
Protect your teeth from decay with dental sealants. Contact Bonavista Dental Centre at (613) 232-2659 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Andreea Birsila. We are conveniently located at Suite 1460, 220 Laurier Avenue W in Ottawa, ON, and we are committed to helping you maintain a healthy, cavity-free smile.
