Pit and Fissure Sealants

Dental caries (cavity) is one of the most common oral problems. Pits and fissures of your teeth are prime  location for  these carious lesions .

• Pits and fissures are the deep grooves found on chewing surfaces of your teeth(premolars and molars).
• Although these pits and fissures help in  chewing food , they are prime areas where food can get stuck  and accumulate over a period of time if not cleaned properly.
• The bacteria in your dental plaque feed on sugars from foods and drinks and produces acids that attack your protective tooth enamel. Eventually enamel wears down and results in tooth decay.

Your dentist can help you prevent initiation of pit and fissure cavities by  applying a protective layer known as pit and fissure  sealant . This sealant is a white or clear plastic coating that fills in your pits and fissures thereby preventing plaque  accumulation  It is usually applied on teeth  of children between the ages of six and 12 as their permanent teeth erupt . It can also be applied to adult teeth if your dentist determines that you need it.

If pit and fissure cavity deepens then a restorative filling may be required.In advanced cases root canal therapy followed by crown may be performed. In cases of severe infection or compromised tooth structure tooth extraction may be advised.