Sealants

What Are Sealants?

Sealants are a clear, acrylic-like material that helps shield out decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It may be recommended that sealants be applied to a child's primary (baby) molars by the age of 3 or 4 years. Once the 6-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear, it is best to apply sealants as soon as possible. As a child's most cavity-prone years continue until the mid-teens, the 12-year molars (second molars) and premolars should also be sealed as they appear.

How Can Sealants Prevent Decay?

Sealant material can bond to the chewing surface of the back teeth to form a protective barrier covering the pits and fissures (depressions and grooves) of the chewing surfaces. Sealants are an intermediate preventative step in delaying or preventing tooth decay on these areas of back teeth.