Fissure sealants in Durban North
Seal the deep grooves where decay often starts in your child's new back teeth. A few minutes per tooth, with no drilling and no injection.
A fissure sealant is a thin coating painted into the grooves on the chewing surface of a back tooth. It leaves the surface smooth and easy to keep clean, so a healthy tooth that is sealed is less likely to need a filling later.
When fissure sealants are a good fit
A sealant goes on a healthy back tooth as soon as it is fully through the gum. In children that usually means two rounds:
- at about age 6, when the first adult back teeth (molars) come through;
- at about age 12, when the second molars arrive.
The premolars, just in front of the molars, can be sealed too. If decay has already started, the tooth needs a tooth-coloured filling instead. If your child hasn't had a check-up yet, start with your child's first dental visit.
What happens at your appointment
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Step 1: Clean
We clean the tooth and keep it dry with cotton rolls, so the sealant can bond to it.
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Step 2: Prepare
A mild gel goes on the grooves for a short time to help the sealant stick. It is rinsed off and the tooth is dried again.
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Step 3: Seal
The liquid sealant is painted into the grooves and pits of the chewing surface.
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Step 4: Set
A curing light hardens the sealant, and your child can eat and drink as normal straight away.
How well sealants protect, and for how long
Sealants on the back teeth can prevent up to 8 in 10 cavities for two years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They still prevent about half for up to four years.
A sealant can last up to five years. Chewing wears it down, and very hard, sticky or chewy food can chip it, so we check sealants at every check-up and top up any that have worn.
Investing in your teeth
We accept medical aid, card and cash, and you can ask about paying in instalments. Cover for fissure sealants differs between medical aid plans: read how medical aid covers dental work.
Your questions about fissure sealants
For most children, yes. They do most good where new back teeth have deep grooves, especially if your child has already had decay in other teeth. Where the grooves are shallow and clean easily, sealing is less pressing. Our guide on whether sealants are worth it covers the evidence and the downsides.
Yes, on back teeth that have no decay or fillings. Ask at your check-up whether yours would benefit.
We give you the cost at your child's check-up. Our guide to what a dental visit costs explains how sealants help keep your family's dental costs down.
Sealants work alongside brushing
A sealant covers the chewing surface only. The sides of each tooth and the gaps between them still need brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and cleaning between the teeth.
How much toothpaste to use at each age is on our children's dental care page.
Booking fissure sealants for your child
We also do check-ups, cleaning and fillings for children: see our children's dental care.
Tell us when you book, and ask whether anything on our comfort menu, such as headphones or softer lighting, would help.
Ask us about a Saturday morning appointment.
Book fissure sealants
More care for children and teens
Children
Check-ups, cleaning, fissure sealants and fillings for children, with extra time to settle in at a first visit.
Check-ups and X-rays
Catch decay and gum problems early. We examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and take X-rays only where they're needed.
Teeth cleaning
We take off tartar and surface stains, and can do your check-up at the same visit if it's due.
