Dental Pit and Fissure Sealants

Pit and fissure sealants are used in dental offices to prevent cavities. These sealants are applied to the top surfaces of teeth to seal them off from plaque. The tooth is cleaned and a mild acid solution is applied to aid in bonding, then the pit and fissure sealant is applied and cured. The most common polymerization or curing procedure is light, however, chemical curing is also used. Pit and fissure sealants can be pure resin, composites or compomers and can be clear, opaque or tinted. Glass ionomer sealants are also an option; their main benefit is their ability to work in a moist field. It is a good idea to choose a pit and fissure sealant that does not contain bisphenol-A (BPA) or bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (BPA-DMA); this will give your patients peace of mind as concern has been voiced about BPA leaching. Fluoride release should be considered when choosing a pit and fissure sealant as well; fluoride enhances caries prevention, re-mineralization and the inhibition of enamel demineralization. Application should also be researched; options like single use, refillable syringes and capsule are available.