Caries is considered a common problem in children. Since milk teeth are less durable, and cleaning is usually not done well enough, bacteria are actively developing. Different methods are used to protect against this. One of them is sealing the fissures of the teeth. What is it is described in the article.
What are fissures?
Fissures are called anatomical sumps, notches, cavities on the chewing part of the teeth. In depth, they are different - from 0.3 mm to 0.25 cm. During eating, the grooves are clogged with food, because of which pathogenic microflora develops. Therefore, tooth decay appears and teeth are destroyed. This is due to the structural features of the recesses, and also happens due to the subtlety of the enamel.
Fissures have the following structure:
- in the form of a cone;
- drop-shaped;
- in the form of a funnel;
- polypous.
During cleaning, the grooves are difficult to clean with a regular brush. Enamel on young teeth is not very strong, therefore, children often have caries. That is why dentists are advised to perform sealing, or sealing.
General information
Sealing fissures of teeth - what is it? This is a special treatment of teeth vulnerable to caries in places called fissures. These sites are located in the recesses of the chewing teeth and are usually poorly cleaned with normal hygiene. Fissure sealing involves filling cavities with reliable material that prevents contact of the teeth with bacteria and food. The procedure does not cause discomfort to the child, since it is absolutely painless.
According to experts, sealing fissures in children is tolerated quite easily. Another advantage is enamel strengthening. If the tooth has just erupted, then it will not be strong enough, therefore, the resistance to the influence of bacteria is low. And since children's hygiene is not entirely ideal, besides, kids love sweets, sealant protection will be a great solution.
Pros and cons of the procedure
According to reviews, fissure sealing has the following advantages:
- Excellent protection against caries, both children and adults.
- The likelihood of preventing tooth decay.
- Protection against secondary caries.
- The sealant silant remarkably fixes fillings already present in the teeth.
But, according to reviews, sealing teeth has its drawbacks. Some experts believe that due to gel treatment, natural growth and proper tooth formation are impaired. According to them, it is not worth using sealant.
There is also a doctors opinion that silant should be poured only on a flat surface. An unfilled unevenness will cause serious caries. Since it is difficult to detect after the procedure, therefore, it may come to the point that the tooth will need to be removed. Judging by the reviews of experts, only a professional should perform the procedure, otherwise there is a risk of negative consequences.
When is the procedure performed?
Judging by the reviews of doctors, the procedure should be performed only after consultation with a specialist. Usually it is carried out with:
- deep and narrow fissures in the teeth;
- pigmented fissures, that is, if they are destroyed by exposure to bacteria;
- fissure caries;
- lack of tooth on the opposite side;
- poor oral hygiene.
In these cases, fissure sealing is a great solution. A correctly performed procedure will protect the teeth from decay by caries.
Contraindications
Fissure sealing in children cannot be performed with:
- wide and open fissures;
- intolerance of the substance used in the procedure;
- tooth decay with caries;
- the presence of neighboring teeth affected by caries;
- teething more than 4 years ago and unaffected by caries.
When fissures change color, sealing will be an appropriate procedure. With it, you can protect the child from many dental problems.
Materials
What material is used to seal the fissures? A silant is used for the procedure. This is a reliable composite that hardens after exposure to light. It has high fluidity, which allows the component to penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the teeth.
The silant is water-resistant, that is, it is not damaged by constant contact with saliva. Because of this, the applied sealant is able to serve 3-5 years, but there are cases when it remained on the teeth for more than 10 years. According to reviews, this procedure perfectly protects from dental problems for a long time.
In each case, all the necessary materials are selected by the doctor, which must be discussed with the patient in advance. It depends on the condition of the hard tissues of the teeth and structure. The following materials are in demand:
- Composite compounds. They are presented in the form of materials with a light curing or chemically cured composite. To date, fluid substances are used. With them, the fissures are qualitatively closed with their great depth and the presence of a strong branching. Composites cover the problem area for a long time, do not dissolve in the mouth and are not destroyed by food.
- Compomer compounds. These materials are more fluid in comparison with the previous type. Their main advantage is the ability to release fluorine compounds during contact with the liquid in the mouth.
- Cements with glassomers. Often they are used with weak enamel. The composition contains active fluorine, which for a long period penetrates the hard tissues of the tooth. This provides double prevention of caries, thanks to the strengthening of enamel and sealing fissures.
Like enamel, sealing materials are subject to wear. If the surface has worn off, it can be replaced. The approximate duration is 1-3 years.
Methods
What methods of fissure sealing are used? Silant solidification is carried out in two ways:
- Exposure to light. The component becomes hard after applying the lamp.
- Chemical exposure. Hardening is observed after a chemical reaction.
The sealant can be transparent (used for increased risk of caries) and colored (effective to facilitate monitoring the integrity of the coating). The most common drugs include Fissulight, UltraSeal XT and Fissurit.
Features of the procedure
Sealing of fissures of milk teeth is effective. It is necessary to use a sealant after teething, when the fissures are not covered with soft gum tissue. This is usually observed in 2-2.5 years. If you do not complete the procedure, you may not be in time, as caries of the chewing teeth appears quickly.
The fissures for permanent teeth are sealed. According to dentists, treatment should also be performed after they erupt. The procedure is usually carried out in the first six months, as a permanent tooth appeared. During this period, its chewing surface is available for processing, and the enamel is not yet destroyed by bacteria.
Types of Procedure
According to reviews, the sealing of fissures in children should be carried out after examination by a doctor. The specialist will choose the appropriate method. There are 2 ways:
- Non-invasive In addition to silant coating, other activities with tooth tissues are not performed. The method is ideal for permanent and deciduous teeth, which only erupted, while the fissures have a simple structure, and the specialist has no suspicion of caries.
- Invasive. Sealing fissures of this type involves the expansion of the fissure with a drill. In this case, there will be no penetration deeper than the enamel coating. The method is used if the furrows have a complex shape or are covered by chewing tubercles. The dentist checks whether there is no caries at the bottom of the convolutions - the doctor will not be able to determine the pathology by another method.
To select the correct method for sealing chewing grooves, the doctor examines, conducts x-rays and other methods for diagnosing the depth and integrity of the fissures. Both methods are considered effective and safe. According to reviews, sealing fissures in children provides a long-term effect of protection against caries.
How is the procedure performed?
Fissure sealing is carried out according to the following instructions:
- The doctor performs professional cleaning to maximize the removal of plaque from the teeth being treated and to obtain a dry, smooth surface.
- Teeth should be washed and dried, and then coated with cotton swabs so that saliva does not penetrate.
- Special glue is applied to the teeth to make the surface rough.
- Then it is washed and dried again, and then there is a treatment with a silant, which is distributed evenly by the probe.
- Using a lamp, the doctor ensures the hardening of the sealant and performs a check for fullness of the fissures.
- With the help of carbon paper, the dentist identifies the places for applying the excess component, and then eliminates the polished nozzle.
After the procedure
As a prevention of caries, sealing fissures will be a great solution. After the procedure, the chewing surface of the crowns becomes glossy and smoothed. It gains uniformity. Depending on the type of material, the tooth may turn white.
Based on the appearance of the surface, it will be possible to evaluate the quality of the silant layer. If the surface is matte and inhomogeneous, then it has low protective properties. To extend the service life it is necessary to carry out preventive measures:
- During the first few hours, you should not eat food to eliminate the violation of the integrity of the applied layer.
- On the first day you should not eat solid food.
- Then for cleaning it is necessary to use brushes with soft bristles or medium hardness.
- While there is sealant on the teeth, do not use electric brushes, since the increased speed of the head leads to rapid abrasion.
- Do not use abrasive paste.
- During the procedure, do not press hard on the chewing surface.
Usually, with the observance of prophylaxis, the protective layer remains for 5 years. But there is no accurate forecast. Judging by the reviews, in children 4-6 years old, the silant loses its integrity after 3 years. The maximum duration of protection is valid in adolescents. Then the seal lasts up to 8 years.
Cost
What is the cost of sealing fissures in children? In each clinic, the cost is different. It depends on many factors. The approximate price of fissure sealing is 600-1500 rubles. The invasive method of a baby tooth is about 800 rubles. The price of sealing fissures for a permanent crown starts at 1300 rubles. With the invasive method, the cost increases by 300-500 rubles.
In adults
Usually, an invasive method is used to close the furrows in adult patients, in which cracks are initially opened, and then examination and cleaning are performed. The steps are similar to a baby procedure:
- X-ray clarifies the structure and condition of the fissures.
- With the help of circular brushes and special pastes, the surface of the teeth is cleaned. Often used ultrasound or sandblasting apparatus. The remnants of the product must be washed off.
- Then wash and dry the fissures. This is accomplished by airing with a gel in which a concentration of phosphoric acid is present.
- Sealant is placed in open and clean slots, distributing it over the surface. Surplus needs to be eliminated.
- Then the light-polymer lamp is applied to harden the composition, and at the end, the enamel is polished and polished.
Effect
The composition of the sealing component contains fluoride ions, under the influence of which the dental tissue is strengthened. It gains acid resistance.
After the procedure, a protective layer appears on the teeth, which protects against the entry of pathogenic bacteria, which lead to caries. Efficiency decreases only with the destruction of the adhesive.
Thus, fissure sealing is recognized as an effective anti-caries procedure. It is performed in many dental clinics for adults and children. Given the numerous reviews, it can be concluded that most patients are satisfied with the procedure.