Fissure Sealants & Fluoride

What is a fissure sealant?

The grooves on the chewing surface of molars are called fissures. They are narrower than a toothbrush bristle: the brush cannot reach in, while bacteria and food debris enter easily. Most childhood decay begins on these surfaces.

A fissure sealant fills these grooves with a flowable material, leaving the surface smooth.

The procedure

The tooth is cleaned and dried, the surface prepared, the flowable material placed into the fissures and light-cured. No tooth is drilled and no anaesthesia is used. It takes a few minutes per tooth.

The ideal time is when the permanent molar has fully erupted, usually at 6-7 and 11-13 years.

Fluoride application

Fluoride varnish increases the resistance of enamel to acid and helps arrest early lesions (white spots). The high-concentration varnish applied in the clinic does not replace fluoride toothpaste at home.

We ask that nothing is eaten or drunk for 30 minutes afterwards, and that teeth are not brushed that day.

Follow-up

Sealants can wear or partially come away over time. They are assessed at six-monthly check-ups and refreshed if needed. A sealant does not replace brushing or reducing the frequency of sugar; it works alongside them.

This page is general information and does not replace a dental examination. Whether the treatment suits you, and the method and duration, are decided only after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.