Who is sealing indicated for?
The procedure is most often performed on children and adolescents - immediately after the eruption of permanent molars, until the fissures are affected by caries. For adults, it is indicated for deep grooves and a high susceptibility to caries. The tooth is not drilled: the surface is cleaned, treated and filled with a flowing sealant, which is illuminated with a lamp.
What is caries and why is it treated immediately?
Caries is the destruction of hard tooth tissues by acids that produce plaque bacteria. The process goes from the surface inwards: first the enamel suffers, then the dentin, and at the last stage the infection reaches the pulp - the neurovascular bundle inside the tooth.
The earlier treatment is started, the smaller the volume of intervention and the cheaper it is. Superficial caries can be closed with a small filling in one visit, while advanced caries requires root canal treatment and a crown.
Stages of caries
- C-1 - superficial: only the enamel is affected, usually no pain
- C-2 - medium: the process has reached the dentin, a reaction to sweets and cold appears
- C-3 - deep: a thin layer of dentin remains before the pulp, pain becomes noticeable
- C-4 - deep with involvement of the pulp chamber: a therapeutic lining or canal treatment is required
How is the treatment carried out?
The doctor selects the color of the future filling, numbs the tooth, isolates it from saliva, removes softened dentin and forms a cavity. Then the cavity is treated with an adhesive system and filled with composite in layers of 2 mm, each layer being illuminated with a lamp.
At the end, the restoration is checked by bite, ground and polished - a properly polished filling stains less and lasts longer.
After treatment
You can chew on the treated tooth immediately after the anesthesia wears off. Sensitivity to cold for several days is common; If the pain increases or appears at night, you should see a doctor.