fissure sealants

• We use soft cotton wool rolls to gently keep the tongue and cheek away from the tooth.
• We clean the tooth thoroughly using a special toothbrush and toothpaste.
• An etching jelly is applied to the tooth to help the sealant adhere, which is then rinsed off within 20 seconds using our super-cool water jet. Excess water is sucked away with the suction tube.
• A special glue is applied to the tooth and a light is shined on to make it active. 
• The sealant is carefully painted onto the tooth to fill any deep grooves.
• The light is shined on again, and the sealant turns hard and is fixed to the tooth in seconds.

No local anaesthetic is required for preventative fissure sealants.

Yes! It only takes a couple of minutes to do one tooth. No drilling is required for this procedure.

Not everyone is suitable for fissure sealants, as not every molar has deep pits and grooves. 

However the permanent molars usually erupt:

• 7 years of age - all four adult molars may be sealed
• 12-13 years - second adult molars erupt

Fissure sealants usually last around 4-5 years, sometimes longer! We will assess the condition of them at each routine visit and recommend if they need to be replaced. 

Yes, the material is set hard by the end of the procedure and your child can eat and drink as normal.