One of the most common problems with teeth is tooth decay. Tooth decay can lead to severe pain, bad breath, and even tooth loss over time. Dental fissure sealant, also known as tooth vaccination, is a preventive treatment to avoid the formation of tooth decay.
Tooth decay reduces the quality of life both aesthetically and functionally. Especially in children, tooth vaccination after the eruption of permanent teeth helps protect the teeth.
So, what is tooth protective tooth vaccination, and how is it done? Let's delve into these questions in more detail.
What Is Tooth Vaccination?
Fissures are developmental grooves on the surfaces of teeth. In some individuals, these fissures are so narrow that toothbrush bristles cannot reach them, making cleaning difficult.
Food particles trapped in these grooves over time can lead to decay. As a result, the entire tooth may be covered with decay. After explaining these, let's look at what dental fissure sealant, or tooth vaccination, is.
Fissure sealant is the process of filling these grooves with a tooth-colored filling material. This prevents the accumulation of food debris in those spaces, preventing decay.
Fissure Sealant: Why Is Tooth Vaccination Done?
We've answered the question of what tooth vaccination is. Now, let's explore why tooth vaccination is done.
Decay begins with the accumulation of food debris in the fissures, which are difficult to clean on the tooth surface. To prevent this, a fissure sealant procedure is performed. This results in the tooth having fewer grooves and protrusions.
Additionally, this procedure makes dental hygiene easier.
How Is Tooth Protective Tooth Vaccination Done?
Tooth protective tooth vaccination can be performed on both children and adults. It is a simple and painless procedure. After understanding what tooth vaccination is, let's now look at the details of this application.
Stages of Tooth Vaccination Application:
- The patient is first examined to determine whether the application is necessary and which teeth it will be applied to.
- Once the decision is made to proceed with the application, the dentist cleans the teeth using a special brush.
- The cleaned teeth are prepared for fissure sealant using special compounds.
- The fissure sealant is applied to the appropriate parts of the teeth, filling the gaps.
- The fissure sealant is hardened with the help of light. The procedure is completed in this way.
- No anesthesia is applied during tooth vaccination, as there is no pain involved.
Who Is Eligible for Tooth Vaccination?
After understanding what tooth vaccination is, how it is done, and who it is for, let's continue to examine these topics in our article.
Tooth vaccination can be done for everyone, both adults and children. It is a simple and painless procedure. It is especially performed on the molars of children. This provides a preventive measure for the teeth they will use throughout their lives.
Children may not be careful enough during tooth brushing. This procedure also facilitates the cleaning process. It is an easy but effective preventive treatment for permanent teeth in children.
This application can be performed on children in the 6-7 age group. During this age range, children's teeth may be more sensitive to decay. Therefore, a preventive measure can be taken during this age range.
For adults, this procedure can be applied to teeth at risk of decay. This prevents decay before it begins.
Why Do Teeth Decay?
The process of decay occurs with the infection caused by bacteria. Oral bacteria consume leftover food particles on the teeth, producing acid as a result.
This acid weakens the tooth enamel, initiating the decay process. Over time, bacteria produce more acid, increasing tooth decay.
How Does Tooth Vaccination Affect Decayed Teeth?
Tooth vaccination does not directly affect decayed teeth. This procedure is a preventive measure rather than a treatment. So, what is tooth vaccination, and how does it work?
The narrow gaps in the teeth are sealed with fissure sealant, preventing the entry of any food debris. This prevents bacterial growth and decay in those areas.
Decay must be prevented before it starts, and if decay has already begun, a filling procedure is performed. Tooth vaccination should be done before decay sets in.