Fissure sealant
Fissure sealants (FS) sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. Fissure sealants are thin coating placed over the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth to prevent food and bacteria accumulation. The chewing surfaces of the molars are so hard to clean which is often the reason for tooth decay. Fissure sealants are usually only placed on molars because those teeth are most groovy. The procedure is non-invasive and doesn’t require numbing or drilling!
The tooth on the left has no fissure sealant so grooves of the teeth that are prone to decay. The tooth on the right has been fissure sealed so the surface is smooth and easy to clean.