Pit and Fissure Sealants

Almost 9 out of every 10 cavities in children occur on the biting surfaces of the teeth. There are two reasons for this:

• fluoride is not very effective in these pit and fissure areas as it is on smooth surfaces, such as between the teeth;
• the grooves in some teeth are often so deep as to prevent the bristles of a brush from cleaning the area of food and bacteria.

The following drawing is probably the best way to describe why teeth with deep pit and fissures decay so easily and why sealants are so effective in cavity prevention.

Food and plaque gain access deep into the groove where a toothbrush bristle simply won't reach, and a cavity develops easily. The pit and fissure sealant is a bonded plastic that essentially "plugs up" the groove and therefore, prevents a cavity. The procedure is simple. No anesthetic or drilling is required and the cost is generally about 1/2 that of a silver filling. Research has demonstrated a retention rate of approximately 90% after 3 years.

Because permanent molars typically have the deepest grooves and the highest decay rates, these teeth are often treated with sealants. However, other teeth may be benefited by sealant also.