What are dental sealants?
A sealant is a thin, tooth-colored or clear coating painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Some of the pits and grooves on those surfaces are narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, so plaque settles in and brushing cannot get it out. The sealant flows into the grooves, hardens, and leaves a smooth surface that is easy to keep clean.
It does not replace brushing or fluoride. It protects the one part of the tooth they struggle to reach, which is why sealants and fluoride work well together.
Who should get sealants?
Mostly children, as their permanent back teeth come in. The first permanent molars commonly arrive around age 6 and the second around age 12. A new molar is at its most vulnerable in the first few years after it comes through, so the time to seal it is soon after it is fully in. We keep an eye on those teeth at every children's checkup so the moment is not missed.
Baby molars are sometimes sealed too, when their grooves are deep or a child has already had cavities.
Some adults benefit as well: anyone with deep grooves in back teeth that have no decay or fillings in their chewing surfaces, particularly if cavities have been a problem before. If a sealant would add little for your teeth, we will say so.
How are sealants put on?
There is no drilling and no numbing, and the whole thing is quick. The one requirement is a tooth that can be kept dry, so a molar that is only partly through the gum may be left until it has come in further. Each tooth goes through the same few steps:
- The tooth is cleaned, dried, and kept dry with cotton.
- A mild solution is brushed on to roughen the surface slightly so the sealant can grip, then rinsed off.
- The sealant is painted on and flows into the grooves.
- A small light hardens it.
- The bite is checked, and you can eat normally right away.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants commonly last for years, but they can wear or chip, especially on teeth that do a lot of heavy chewing. That is why we check them at every visit, and if one has worn, we touch it up by adding more sealant, again with no drilling.
A sealed tooth can still decay on its sides and between the teeth, where the sealant does not reach, so brushing, flossing and regular checkups still matter.
Can a sealant go over a cavity?
A sealant is for a sound tooth. If a groove has already decayed into a cavity, sealing over it is not the answer, and the tooth needs a tooth-colored filling instead.
Where a groove is stained but sound, or early softening has not yet broken through the surface, a sealant may still be the right call. We will explain what we see on the tooth and why we are recommending one or the other.
Are sealants covered by insurance?
Many dental plans cover sealants on children's permanent molars, often up to a certain age, and cover them for adults less often. Check your plan, or see insurance for the plans we work with.
Even without coverage, a sealant is among the least expensive things in dentistry for what it prevents, costing a fraction of the filling it can spare a tooth from. The fee depends on how many teeth are sealed, and you will know it before we start. For families without insurance, the Virginia Dental Club is a membership plan worth a look.
Questions patients ask
Do sealants hurt?
There is no drilling and no needle, so there is nothing to numb. Most children find the hardest part is keeping still with their mouth open.
How long do sealants last?
Commonly for years. They can wear down or chip with heavy chewing, so we check them at every visit and add more sealant where one has worn.
Can adults get sealants?
Yes, when a back tooth has deep grooves and no decay or filling in its chewing surface. It is less common than for children, and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing for your teeth.
Does my child still need to brush sealed teeth?
Yes. A sealant covers only the chewing surface, so the sides of each tooth and the spaces between teeth still need brushing and flossing. Fluoride and regular checkups still matter too.
What if a sealant comes off?
It happens, especially on teeth that chew hard. Mention it at your next visit, or call sooner if the tooth feels rough or catches food. Putting a new one on is the same quick process, with no drilling.