Tooth decay is preventable yet even in fluoridated communities, caries is our most common disease affecting every family including over 11 million Australians each year, escalating health budget and waiting lists for treatment.

Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces from acid demineralisation where food is left under chewing pressure after every meal or snack and brushing cannot reach while fluoride toothpaste and saliva cannot gain access through trapped food to remineralise demineralised tooth like on other more accessible surfaces.

Costly sealants placed over chewing surfaces, block food being trapped and halt the caries process before more costly fillings, root canal treatment, crowns, bridges, extractions or dentures are necessary.

Fissure sealants can be forced deep inside pits and fissures of all upper and lower chewing surfaces on one side of the mouth at once, greatly reducing chair time, cost and early loss of the sealants because of better retention inside the fissures as can be seen in the photo below when the tooth is dissolved in acid leaving an impression that shows where food is trapped under chewing pressure and where fluoride toothpaste can be forced deep inside pits and fissures before brushing to remineralise demineralised tooth where brushing cannot reach.

This evidence clearly supports recent health reform reports that oral health promotion needs to be improved and government should lead the way and call for a review of personal tooth care advice and preventive treatment where necessary to prevent more serious and costly professional dental care.