Does it hurt for children to do pit and fissure sealing?
Source：Pujing Dental ClinicUpdated on：2023-01-13
Caries, commonly known as "worm teeth", seriously affects children's oral health and growth and development. According to the survey, more than 70% - 80% of the decayed teeth in Chinese teenagers and children occur in the pit and fissure of the teeth.
As early as 1971, the American Dental Association (ADA) confirmed the effect of pit and fissure sealing and began to recommend its use. However, many parents have many doubts about what pit and fissure sealing is, whether it really must be done, and when it should be done... Today, we will interpret pit and fissure sealing for you!
1、 What is pit and fissure sealing?
The occlusal surface of teeth, especially the posterior teeth, is uneven, and bacteria and food are easy to accumulate here, which is very easy to cause caries.
(The position of the red arrow in the figure below is the pit and groove, which is prone to tooth decay; the right figure is the closed state after the pit and groove is closed to prevent the pit and groove from being decayed)
It is difficult to go deep into the pit and fissure by brushing and gargling. As long as the pit and fissure are well protected, the possibility of caries in children will be greatly reduced.
Applying pit and fissure sealant to the pit and fissure space of the occlusal surface of the teeth to form a protective film can effectively reduce the probability of tooth decay in children.
2、 What is the principle of pit and fissure sealing?
It is to apply a kind of synthetic organic polymer resin material that is harmless to human body and can self-coagulate into the deep pit and groove of teeth. After hardening, the material can be retained in the pit and groove for a long time, which is like forming a protective barrier to isolate the erosion of bacteria and food residues on the teeth, just like putting a protective coat on the teeth.
3、 When can we do pit and fissure sealing?
The best time for pit and fissure sealing is when the teeth completely erupt and have not decayed, so children are most suitable for pit and fissure sealing. When children's teeth reach the occlusal plane after eruption, they are suitable for pit and fissure sealing, generally within 4 years after eruption. The saliva in the mouth can wash the smooth surface of the teeth, but the pits and crevices on the occlusal surface cannot be cleaned.
The best time to close is: 3-4 years old: primary molars.
6-7 years old: first permanent molar.
11-13 years old: second permanent molar./p>
9-13 years old: bicuspid
4、 Is there pain when pit and fissure are closed?
The pit and fissure sealing takes a short time, is painless, and can be completed at one time. The dentist will clean and dry the teeth first, and then apply the pit and fissure sealant on the part of the pit and fissure gap, and use a special light to illuminate the teeth to make them hard.
Generally, it only takes about 20 minutes to finish the 4 first permanent molars, and only needs the child to open his mouth and cooperate with the doctor. Because there is no need to grind the tooth tissue, there is no pain.
After pit and fissure sealing, you should go to the hospital for recheck half a year later. If the sealant is found to fall off, you should reseal it. After the pit and fissure are closed, you should also brush your teeth properly to minimize the possibility of children suffering from dental caries.
5、 How to maintain after pit and fissure sealing? Will it decay again?
After pit and fissure sealing, there is still a possibility of dental caries in theory. Because the pit and fissure sealing has a certain rate of falling off, some children drool a lot during the operation, which may make the coating unstable and easy to fall off. Parents should often observe their children's teeth and see the dentist in time if they find problems. At the same time, parents are also advised to go to the hospital to check their children's teeth regularly every year, so as to prevent the disease before it happens, because the earlier the treatment of dental disease, the better the effect.
Even after pit and fissure sealing, careful brushing and flossing are still very important!
Closing the pit and fissure is only a small part of a child's plan to avoid tooth decay in his life. Brushing, flossing, eating reasonably, controlling snacks and visiting the dentist regularly are still very important for a child to have a bright and healthy smile.
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