Usually, we recommend applying fissure sealants to children’s adult back teeth soon after they erupt, and before any tooth decay can begin. Fissure sealants can only be used to protect teeth that do not have cavities or fillings, which is why we recommend their application soon after adult back teeth erupt. Sometimes teeth that have tiny lesions indicating the early signs of tooth decay can have fissure sealants. Sealing these teeth prevent the bacteria from causing more damage and infection, but it is only rarely we can use this approach when treating tooth decay.
Occasionally we might suggest protecting a child’s milk or primary teeth with fissure sealants. This treatment can be useful when milk teeth have especially deep fissures and are prone to tooth decay. It is essential to protect milk teeth and to ensure they remain healthy until they are ready to be shed naturally and replaced with adult teeth. Premature loss of primary teeth can negatively affect the development of adult teeth, so it is important to try and prevent this from happening.
