What causes pit and fissure cavities?
Pit and fissure cavities occur on the chewing surface of your teeth. Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.
How do they fix pit and fissure cavities?
Pit and Fissure Cavity Treatment If they are found early, pit and fissure cavities can be treated with sealants or some types of fluoride. Once the cavity becomes deeper, however, a dentist will need to remove decay and repair the tooth with fillings or possibly root canals and crowns.
Are pits and fissures in teeth normal?
Pits and fissures have evolved naturally in teeth because they aid in chewing food. The problem is that food particles can become trapped in these depressions and grooves. This leads to the formation of dental plaque that produces acids, which attack your tooth enamel.
What is a pit in a tooth?
A pit is a small depression on the surface of the tooth, whereas fissures are the grooves that naturally occur on all biting surfaces of teeth. Most of the time, the teeth at the back (the premolars and molars) have the most grooves, however the teeth at the front (incisors and canines) can also have pits and fissures.
When is it too late to reverse a cavity?
In most cases, by the time you notice the symptoms of tooth decay, it will be too late to reverse the damage with natural methods. You will need to consult your dentist to prevent the damage from spreading to other areas of the tooth.
How long do pit and fissure sealants last?
How long do pit and fissure sealants last? Sealants usually last for many years, but your dental team will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dental team need to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath it.
How can I clean my teeth pits?
Cleaning can be accomplished using hydrogen peroxide, a toothbrush, a prophy cup or brush, or a prophy jet. Products containing fluoride and/or glycerin are contraindicated and should not be used to clean the tooth. After cleaning, the surface should be rinsed approximately 20 seconds.
How do you get rid of pits in your teeth?
Treatment options include:Fluoride treatments. If your cavity just started, a fluoride treatment may help restore your tooth's enamel and can sometimes reverse a cavity in the very early stages. ... Fillings. ... Crowns. ... Root canals. ... Tooth extractions.
Can you eat after fissure sealants?
As the sealant is light cured your child can eat and drink as normal after treatment. The smooth sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal tooth brushing and also using a fluoride toothpaste.
What is a fissure in tooth?
Tooth fissures are deep pits and grooves on the surfaces of the teeth. They are particularly common in children and teenagers and can often cause cavities in the back teeth (molars) where they are normally found. As tooth fissures are very narrow it is difficult to clean inside them when you brush your teeth.
Are fissure sealants painful?
What are fissure sealants? Dental fissure sealants are a protective layer applied on the chewing teeth (the molars) to reduce tooth decay. Applying a sealant is quick and painless and can be done by your dental practitioner.
What does a pit in your tooth look like?
Often a cavity will look like a dark spot on the tooth, typically yellow, brown, or black in color. Early on, it may resemble tooth staining or a slight discoloration. As cavities progress, the holes get bigger and usually darker. A little dot can ultimately consume almost the entire tooth.
How do you fix deep pits in your teeth?
If the cavity reaches the dentin, your dentist will use dental restorations like fillings, composites, or crowns to repair the decay. Fillings and composites are used for smaller and medium decay areas, whereas crowns are used to repair more considerable tooth decay, compromising the tooth's structure itself.
How do you fix deep grooves in your teeth?
A dental sealant is made of a high-quality plastic film and applied to the deep grooves (also known as fissures) that are often found in molars. Fissures can be caused by chewing patterns, but they are often just part of the natural growth of teeth. Some people have deeper grooves than others.
How effective are pit and fissure sealants?
Its effectiveness has been greatly contributed by its longevity of clinical survival. Clinical trials reported more than 80% complete retention of sealant after 2 years and 70% after 3 years in permanent molars.
How do you fix pits in your teeth?
Luckily, fluoride toothpaste can get rid of an early pit and fissure cavity quickly. However, once the cavity reaches the dentin a dentist must remove the decay before treating the cavity. A small or medium cavity requires fillings or composites. And a large pit and fissure cavity will most likely need a crown.