Many people have a deep fear of toothache. After all, toothache is not a disease, but it is really terrible. Therefore, many parents attach great importance to their children’s oral problems and hope that their children can have good teeth from an early age.
It is true that preventing tooth decay starts with children. Some parents will prevent caries by “smearing fluoride” on their baby’s teeth, but in addition, there is another method worth trying, that is, pit and fissure sealing.
What are pits and fissures?
Parents should know that there are two types of teeth, one is the front “front teeth” and the other is the back “big teeth”. The “big teeth” are also known as primary molars until your child has their teeth replaced.
The occlusal surfaces of baby’s primary molars are not as smooth as paper. Between the cusps, there will be some concave grooves, and these are called “pits and fissures”.
If not cleaned properly, the gaps in these fissures and fissures can become filled with food, which can turn black over time and cause tooth decay.
Don’t look at these fissures and fissures that look like they’re only on the surface of the teeth, not deep at all. But in fact, the shape of the pit and fissure is deeper and more complex than what we can see with the naked eye, and it may even reach the deep part of the enamel layer.
That’s why, the World Health Organization recommends the use of pit and fissure seals to help children protect their newly erupted “deciduous molars.”
What is pit and fissure closure?
It refers to the application of a “sealer” to the deeper pits and fissures on the tooth surface without removing any tooth tissue. The effect of filling the pit and fissure to prevent bacteria from eroding the teeth.
Some parents are worried, is it safe to seal the pits and fissures? Will the baby feel uncomfortable during this process? In fact, parents can rest assured that the pit and fissure seals are generally made of resin materials, which will not bring additional stimulation to the baby’s mouth.
In addition, the pit and fissure sealing adopts a non-invasive technique. During the whole operation, the baby will not feel pain, which is easier for the baby to accept than the filling.
The biggest advantage of pit and fissure sealing is that it is equivalent to putting a layer of “protective clothing” on the baby’s deciduous molars, which can not only block the invasion of foreign bacteria, but also isolate the original teeth inside the teeth. There is a nutritional source of bacteria, and the combination of internal and external can effectively prevent tooth decay.
When is the best time to seal a pit and fissure for a baby?
Generally speaking, the sooner you can seal your baby’s pit and fissures, the better, so that your baby’s teeth can be protected as soon as possible.
However, parents should wait until the baby’s deciduous molars fully erupt. Depending on your baby’s teething stage, pit and fissure sealing is recommended for the following three age groups:
Around 1.3-4 years old
Typically, pit and fissure sealing requires isolation of the oral salivary environment. Therefore, we recommend that the baby’s deciduous molars can only be done after the baby’s deciduous molars have fully erupted, which is generally about two and a half to three years old.
However, considering the baby’s level of cooperation, 3-4 years old is a more appropriate age.
Of course, it mainly depends on the condition of your baby’s teeth. If the baby has a high incidence of oral caries, when he is more than 1 year old, there will be several cavities in the mouth. Then, it is recommended to seal the pit and fissure with a hydrophilic material immediately when the primary molars erupt, without waiting until the age of 3.
Around 2.6-7 years old
Some parents may feel that the deciduous molars need to be replaced, and there is no need to do pit and fissure sealing. Then, during this time period, they must be supplemented for their children.
Why is this time period so important? Because at this time, the child’s sixth-year-old teeth grow out. Sixth-year-old teeth, also known as the first permanent molars, are the earliest permanent teeth that erupt and will accompany a child for a lifetime.
Not only does it erupt early, it is also the strongest of the permanent dentition: it has the most cusps, the largest crown, the widest chewing area, and it bears more occlusal force and chewing function than other permanent dentitions. Big teeth. It can be seen that it is the most powerful tooth among all teeth and must be well protected.
Around 3.11-13 years old
Some parents may be annoyed that the child is over 7 years old, is there no remedy? Then when the child is 11-13 years old, hurry up and arrange it,
At this time, the children have basically all replaced their teeth, and the second permanent molars and premolars have grown out. It is also a good time to do pit and fissure sealing to protect the teeth.
It should be reminded that pit and fissure sealing is not the exclusive benefit of molars, other teeth can also be pit and fissure sealing if necessary.
For example, some children have deep pockets on the inner side of the incisors or some teeth have special crack structures, which are difficult to clean. In these cases, pit and fissure sealing can also be considered. Specifically, you can go to the hospital’s dental department.
Do all children need pit and fissure sealing?
Not all children need pit and fissure sealing, mainly depends on the child’s dental development.
If the child has no cavities within 2 years of tooth eruption, or has a low risk of cavities, such as a diet low in sugar, daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, or fluoride coating on the tooth surface, etc. No need for pit and fissure sealing.
If parents are worried, they can take their children to the hospital’s stomatology department or a professional dentist to comprehensively evaluate the oral condition, and then decide whether to do pit and fissure sealing.
Doing the pit and fissure sealing does not mean it is done once and for all. Parents still need to urge their children to brush their teeth and clean their mouths daily, because pit and fissure sealing can only prevent the pit and fissure surface from being eroded by bacteria, and the teeth also have smooth front and rear surfaces and the adjoining surface between the teeth. If it is not done well, cavities will still form.
In addition, after the pit and fissure sealing is completed, it needs to be reviewed regularly, usually once every six months, to check whether the sealant has fallen off, and if it has fallen off, it needs to be re-sealed.