Fissure Sealant (Dental Vaccine)

The grooves and pits in the teeth are called fissures. Fissures are especially found in the back teeth, making them difficult to clean. These areas are prone to food accumulation and are therefore the most susceptible to decay. Extra precautions are usually needed to protect and maintain the health of fissured areas. Among these precautions is the use of a fissure sealant, commonly known as a dental vaccine. Fissure sealant application is a protective approach involving the placement of sealant materials on teeth prone to decay. These sealants adhere to the tooth, acting as a barrier against both bacteria and food particles, providing protection.

Although the dental vaccine is a method that has recently gained recognition and popularity, its origins date back to 1965. The lack of sufficient studies and experimental environments at that time prevented the treatment from gaining recognition, but today, this method is accepted as an effective decay prevention treatment. A variety of materials are used as fissure sealants, but the most commonly used and proven effective materials are resin-based sealants and glass ionomer-based sealants.

In What Situations Are Fissure Sealants Applied?

Fissure sealants are used to protect fissure structures from decay and to maintain the healthy condition of enamel. Although the easy application of fissure sealants might suggest they can be used by anyone, this is not practically the case. Whether a person is suitable for fissure sealant application is determined by examination and imaging results.

The evaluation of the patient’s suitability considers social life, medical history, dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, past dental treatments, previous dental issues, and risk factors related to oral health.

Situations where the use of fissure sealants is beneficial include:

• If the person has medical conditions, mental retardation, or other situations that prevent oral hygiene, the use of fissure sealants is recommended. In these patients, application is generally performed on all teeth, including primary teeth.
• If there are active caries in the patient’s mouth, it is considered that the person is prone to decay, and fissure sealant application is recommended.
• The use of fissure sealants is found beneficial in children with developmental and structural defects in primary or other permanent teeth.
• The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) stated in its 2004 guideline that teeth are highly susceptible to decay immediately after eruption. Consequently, it has been shown that applying fissure sealant treatment as soon as possible after this process is highly beneficial. Some studies suggest that the tooth eruption process should be completed for the application of fissure sealants. However, if the child carries risk factors, early fissure sealant application provides significant protection against decay.
• In patients where active caries formation has not yet been observed but initial enamel lesions have been detected, fissure sealant application is recommended to halt the progression of decay.

Methods of Applying Fissure Sealants

Fissure sealants are applied using different methods depending on the structure of the fissures and the presence of decay in the tooth. These methods include:

• Non-invasive technique: This technique is applied to teeth without observed decay. Plaque and foreign materials on the fissure are removed, and the fissure sealant is placed. In shallow fissures, application is performed without the need for widening. Since no widening is done, the hard components of the tooth are not damaged, and tooth health is preserved.
• Invasive technique: This method is preferred for deep and narrow fissures. In the invasive technique, fissures are widened with a dental tool called a bur. Then, the fissure sealant is applied. The widening process ensures better adherence of the sealant to the fissures and reduces the likelihood of leakage.
• Preventive resin restoration (PRR): This method involves the application of fissure sealants after cleaning the area that is prone to decay or has decayed.

If you want to protect your teeth from potential decay and achieve maximum efficiency while cleaning your teeth, fissure sealant treatment may be suitable for you. Consulting a specialist is of course essential, and if you are curious about whether you are suitable for the application, you can start your treatment process by consulting our expert dentists.