What are the benefits of pit and fissure sealing?

Aug 22, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
In general, the benefits of pit and fissure sealing mainly include protecting the tooth surface structure, reducing food residue retention, lowering the risk of dental caries, preventing the progression of superficial caries into deeper caries, and reducing the likelihood of pulpitis caused by dental caries. If you are considering pit and fissure sealing, it is recommended to choose a qualified hospital. In daily life, you should avoid chewing overly hard foods, such as hard candies and bones, with the sealed teeth.

Generally speaking, the main benefits of pit and fissure sealing include protecting the tooth surface structure, reducing food residue retention, lowering the risk of dental caries, preventing the progression of superficial caries to deep caries, and reducing the likelihood of pulpitis caused by caries. If you are considering pit and fissure sealing, it is recommended to choose a reputable hospital. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Protecting the Tooth Surface Structure

Pit and fissure sealing forms a protective barrier in the grooves of teeth, preventing direct contact between the tooth surface and food friction or bacterial erosion, thus maintaining the original shape and function of the teeth. After sealing, it is still necessary to brush teeth carefully in the morning and evening to maintain oral hygiene.

2. Reducing Food Residue Retention

The sealing material fills the grooves of the teeth, smoothing previously uneven areas, making it harder for food debris to accumulate and reducing cleaning difficulty. Dental floss can also be used to further clean food residue between teeth.

3. Lowering the Risk of Dental Caries

Pit and fissure sealing prevents contact between bacteria and the grooves of teeth, reducing acid production by bacteria that can erode teeth, thereby lowering the likelihood of caries formation. Regular dental check-ups are recommended, typically every six months, to detect dental problems promptly.

4. Preventing Superficial Caries from Progressing to Deep Caries

For teeth with existing superficial caries that have not yet affected the pulp, pit and fissure sealing can prevent further progression of the decay and avoid worsening of the condition. If superficial caries are accompanied by mild discomfort, medications such as sodium fluoride glycerin paste, silver nitrate solution, or ammoniacal silver nitrate solution can be used under a dentist's guidance as adjunctive treatment.

5. Reducing the Risk of Pulpitis Caused by Caries

By effectively preventing dental caries, the likelihood of pulpitis caused by caries reaching the pulp is reduced, avoiding severe pain and complex procedures such as root canal treatment. If pulpitis unfortunately occurs, timely root canal treatment should be performed to prevent the spread of inflammation.

In daily life, it is important to avoid chewing excessively hard foods with sealed teeth, such as hard candies or bones; maintain good oral hygiene habits by rinsing the mouth promptly after meals; follow medical advice and regularly check the integrity of the sealant, promptly repairing it if detachment is found.

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