Can pit and fissure sealing prevent tooth decay?

Can pit and fissure sealants prevent tooth decay? When it comes to this question, most people are actually not clear about it, because even the professional term pit and fissure sealants is only known to very few people, and most people don't know about this aspect. So if we want to know the correct answer to this question, we must first understand pit and fissure sealing. Only by knowing about pit and fissure sealing can we answer this question better and more comprehensively.

There are many ways to prevent tooth decay. In many rural areas, there are some folk remedies that can be used to prevent tooth decay, but these folk remedies have not been approved by experts, so it is better not to use them. As for whether pit and fissure sealants can prevent tooth decay, we must first understand pit and fissure sealants and then answer this question.

What is pit and fissure sealing?

There are many pits and grooves on the "big teeth" in the mouth. These pits and grooves are uneven, like a grinding wheel, which can increase the chewing area and increase friction, which is conducive to fully chewing food. However, it cannot be ignored that the cracks in these areas are relatively deep, which easily accumulates caries-causing bacteria and is not easy to remove. Once the bacteria invade, they can gradually damage the entire tooth and shorten the life of the tooth.

Pit and fissure sealing is the process of applying a material (a synthetic organic polymer resin that is harmless to the human body and can self-solidify) to the cross-shaped pits and fissures of the teeth. When in liquid form, it can penetrate into the pits and fissures on the surface of the teeth and solidify after exposure to light. It is like putting a protective coat on the teeth to protect them from food erosion.

Children are the ones who are most likely to have pit and fissure sealants done because (1) they are young and do not brush their teeth as carefully as adults; (2) children generally like to eat sweets, soft foods, and sticky foods, which tend to stick to their teeth; and (3) the newly erupted teeth of young children are not yet fully calcified, so their teeth are more susceptible to erosion and decay.

Will I not get tooth decay after pit and fissure sealing?

After pit and fissure sealing, there is still a theoretical possibility of tooth decay. Because pit and fissure sealants have a certain shedding rate, and some children saliva a lot during the operation, the coating may become unstable and easy to fall off. Parents should observe their children's teeth regularly and see a dentist promptly if any problems are found. It is also recommended that parents go to the hospital regularly to check their children's teeth every year to prevent problems before they occur, because the earlier the dental disease is treated, the better the effect.

At what age is it suitable for children to have pit and fissure sealing?

Babies around 3 years old can have their deciduous teeth pits and fissures sealed because deciduous teeth are relatively soft and babies love to eat sweets and don’t like to brush their teeth.

6-8 years old is the most suitable age for children to undergo permanent tooth pit and fissure sealing. First, children are not as careful as adults when brushing their teeth, and food can easily remain between their teeth; second, newly erupted teeth are not strong and hard enough and can easily break; third, the child's permanent teeth have just erupted and the occlusal surfaces of their teeth have not yet been finalized, so it is not easy to cause discomfort after pit and fissure sealing; finally, children around 6 years old are more sensible and can cooperate with the operation.

Therefore, now everyone not only knows the specific concept of pit and fissure sealing, but through the above introduction, we have also discovered that, in fact, pit and fissure sealing can be used to prevent tooth decay. So in reality, if our parents are interested, they can also try to do pit and fissure sealing on their children to prevent tooth decay, but pay attention to the issue of time.