Children's Fluoride & Fissure Sealants

Simple, painless preventive treatments that protect children's teeth from decay. A fissure sealant flows into the deep grooves of the back teeth and sets hard to seal out food and bacteria, while fluoride varnish strengthens the enamel and helps it resist acid attack. Both are quick, comfortable and need no drilling or anaesthetic, and are usually combined with a routine check-up.

Prevention is central to Family Dent's paediatric care, and fluoride application and fissure sealing are two of the most effective ways to reduce decay in children's teeth. The biting surfaces of the back teeth have deep grooves and pits where a toothbrush bristle cannot reach and where plaque and food easily collect, making them the most common site for cavities in children and teenagers. A fissure sealant addresses this: after the tooth is cleaned and dried, a thin protective resin is flowed into the grooves and set firm, creating a smooth, sealed surface that is much easier to keep clean. The procedure is completely painless and needs no drilling or anaesthetic. Fluoride varnish complements sealing by strengthening the enamel itself. Applied as a quick coat to the milk or permanent teeth, fluoride helps remineralise early weak spots and makes the enamel more resistant to the acids produced by plaque, lowering the overall risk of decay. Both treatments are typically carried out alongside a routine children's check-up so the dentist can monitor development at the same time, and they can be repeated periodically as new adult teeth come through. The clinic also offers plaque-disclosing with a brushing demonstration so children learn an effective cleaning routine. These preventive measures are a low-cost, high-value way to protect a child's teeth through the cavity-prone years and to build positive associations with the dentist. The dentist advises on which teeth would benefit and how often to repeat treatment.