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What
are sealants?
Sealants
are a safe and painless way of protecting your children's
teeth from dental decay. A sealant is a protective plastic
coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the
back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps
food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in
the teeth and causing decay.
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Which
teeth should be sealed?
Sealants
are only applied to the back teeth - the molars and premolars
- as these are the teeth that have the pits and fissures
on their biting surfaces. Your dentist will advise you
which teeth should be sealed after they have examined
them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough
for sealing to be beneficial. Some teeth naturally form
with deep grooves which will need to be sealed, others
with shallow ones which will not need sealing.
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What
is involved?
The
process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only
a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned,
prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid
sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard - usually
by shining an ultraviolet light onto it.
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Will
my child feel it?
The
procedure is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel
any different afterwards.
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How
long do they last?
Sealants
usually last for many years, but your dentist will want
to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is
still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes it
is necessary to add or replace some sealant to be sure
that no decay can start underneath them.
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How
do they work?
The sealant forms a smooth, protective
barrier, by covering all the little grooves and dips in
the surface of the tooth. Much dental decay starts in
these grooves.
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When
should this be done?
Sealants are often applied as soon as
the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually
between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed
as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11
and 14 years of age.
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How
much does it cost?
Most dentists offer fissure sealing.
It may be available on the NHS and is not a costly treatment,
but in many cases it is available only privately. The
cost varies from dentist to dentist, but it is usually
good value.
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Do
my children still have to clean their teeth?
Yes. Good oral hygiene is still an absolute
necessity. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier
to keep clean and healthy with normal toothbrushing. Use
of fluoride toothpaste will also help to protect your
children's teeth. Pit & Fissure sealing reduces tooth
decay and therefore the number of fillings your child
might need.
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Whom
do I ask about the treatment?
If you would like to know more about
the treatment, consult your dentist or hygienist. They
will tell you if fissure sealing will help your children's
teeth, and if it is the right time to do it.
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