What is pit and fissure sealing?

I believe that everyone is still relatively unfamiliar with the term pit and fissure sealing. So what exactly is pit and fissure sealing? What are the functions and benefits of pit and fissure sealing? How can we achieve pit and fissure sealing? In what fields can pit and fissure sealing play a role? How should we start the specific operation of pit and fissure sealing? Let's take a look at what pit and fissure sealing is below.

Pit and fissure sealing is actually a kind of oral technology. The main function of pit and fissure sealing is to prevent teeth from being eroded. Pit and fissure sealing is applicable in many aspects. The best time to perform pit and fissure sealing is when the teeth have just come out but before caries occurs.

Pit and fissure sealant refers to a method of preventing pit and fissure caries by applying pit and fissure sealant materials to the pits and fissures of the occlusal surface and buccal and lingual surfaces of the tooth crown without damaging the tooth tissue. When the sealant flows into and penetrates the pits and fissures, it solidifies and hardens to form a protective barrier covering the pits and fissures, which can prevent caries-causing bacteria and acidic metabolites from eroding the tooth, thereby achieving the goal of preventing pit and fissure caries. Pit and fissure sealing is a painless and non-traumatic method that has been used internationally for more than 50 years.

The occlusal surface (the side for chewing food) of the large teeth at the back of everyone's mouth is uneven, and the sunken areas are called pits and fissures. If these pits and fissures are not well developed, they will be very deep, and food and bacteria will be embedded in them, making dental caries (also called "cavities") very likely to occur. Medically, this type of caries is called pit and fissure caries. According to oral epidemiological surveys, more than 90% of caries among Chinese adolescents occur in pits and fissures. The "sixth-year molar" is a common site for pit and fissure caries. It is the first permanent molar to erupt, has the strongest chewing function, and is most susceptible to caries, and may even fall out prematurely, so it is important to protect children's first permanent molars. Pit and fissure sealing is the most effective method to prevent pit and fissure caries in permanent molars.

Evidence-based medicine research shows that pit and fissure sealants are an effective method to prevent pit and fissure caries, and the use of resin-based pit and fissure sealants can effectively reduce the incidence of caries in permanent molars. The anti-caries effect of pit and fissure sealing is directly related to the retention rate of the sealant, so the operation must be strict and standardized.

The main reasons for sealing failure (sealer shedding) are: 1. insufficient acid etching, which results in the tooth surface not showing a chalky appearance after drying; 2. saliva or compressed air from an airgun mixed with water/oil, which contaminates the tooth surface after acid etching and causes the sealant to shear off. Other factors that affect the quality of sealing include the choice of indications, clinical operation skills, etc.

The sign of successful pit and fissure sealing is that the sealant can exist completely and can be worn but not fall off. Therefore, regular rechecks (three months, six months or one year) are required after sealing to observe the retention of the sealant. If it falls off, the sealant should be redone.

Above we introduced what pit and fissure sealant is. We know that pit and fissure sealant is an oral technique with a very wide range of applications. We also know the best time for pit and fissure sealant and its clinical effect. Only after understanding the above can we understand what pit and fissure sealant is.