Fissure sealants
A reliable way to prevent decay in your back teeth
Fissure sealants (or fissure seals) are tooth-coloured coatings which we can place on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth to help prevent decay. By sealing off the natural pits and grooves in your teeth, they stop food and bacteria from entering these areas and causing dental caries (tooth decay).
Why do I need fissure sealants?
As your back teeth develop in your jaw they start as small separate sections, which grow until they fuse together to create your tooth. When these sections fuse together they can leave grooves which extend quite deep into the tooth, but which can be microscopic in width. These deep grooves can be very difficult to clean properly.
Fissure sealants work by sealing off these grooves from the outside, preventing decay-causing bacteria from entering. The sealants also starve any bacteria already in these grooves and prevent them from damaging your tooth.
Studies have shown fissure sealants can reduce the risk of getting tooth decay in the biting surfaces of your teeth by up to 80%.
Your fissure sealant procedure
The Wickham Terrace Dental team will start by assessing your teeth, mouth and daily oral hygiene habits to determine if fissure sealants would be a good preventive dental treatment for you.
If we decide that you would benefit from having fissure sealants, we’ll organise an appointment with either our dentist or hygienist to professionally clean your teeth and then place the tooth-coloured fissure sealant on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth.
The procedure is completely straightforward, with no tooth structure removal and no local anaesthetic needed.
To book your preventive dental assessment and find out whether fissure sealants could work for you, get in touch with the form to the right or call 07 3831 3031 now.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I get fissure sealant treatment?
There is no age limit on fissure sealants, and not everyone will need them. To prevent high risk patients from getting tooth decay, ideally we would like to apply fissure sealants as soon as a tooth erupts into the mouth.
We may suggest fissure sealing your adult teeth if you become a high risk patient; for example if you have poor oral hygiene habits, a history of getting many fillings, or a tooth that’s abnormal either in shape or texture.
Should I replace a fissure sealant that has fallen off?
If it’s been a few years since you originally got your fissure sealant, you may no longer be at such a high risk for tooth decay. Because your risk of getting tooth decay changes as you get older (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse) it’s a great idea to have the Wickham Terrace Dental team reassess your risk factors before having your fissure sealant replaced.
How do I take care of my sealed teeth?
You can eat and drink normally once your fissure sealants have set hard. Of course, it’s important that you continue to look after your oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and eating a balanced diet.
The Wickham Terrace Dental team will check the condition of your sealants at your regular preventive dental check-ups with us. If we see that your sealants have come away from your teeth, we may need to replace them.
How much are fissure sealants?
Fissure sealants are cheaper than a filling as they don’t require local anaesthetic, and don’t need any tooth structure to be removed before placement. To find out the price of fissure sealants for your individual situation, contact Wickham Terrace Dental Brisbane on 07 3831 3031 today.