TL;DR
Sealants are a thin resin coating Stone Falls Dental Care paints onto the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars, where grooves are too narrow for toothbrush bristles to clean. They’re most often placed on children’s permanent molars soon after those teeth come in, around ages 6 and 12, though teens and adults with deep, cavity-free grooves can benefit too. Applying one takes a few minutes per tooth, with no drilling or numbing. Sealants can last for years, and Dr. Prane checks them at every exam and repairs any that wear.
What are dental sealants?
A sealant is a liquid plastic coating that flows into the pits and grooves on the biting surface of a back tooth, then hardens into a thin, smooth shield. The grooves on molars can be narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, so food and bacteria settle where brushing can’t reach. Sealing them closes that hiding place.
Sealants don’t replace brushing, flossing or fluoride. They protect one surface, the chewing surface, which happens to be where most cavities in children’s permanent teeth begin. The coating is usually clear, white or lightly tinted, and it isn’t noticeable when you smile.
Who should get dental sealants?
Children are the main candidates, and timing matters. The first permanent molars usually come in around age six and the second molars around age twelve, and sealing them soon after they appear protects them through the years when cavities are most likely. Keeping up regular checkups for children is how we catch those new molars as they arrive.
Teens and adults can benefit as well, as long as the tooth has deep grooves and no decay or filling on its chewing surface. Baby molars with especially deep grooves are sometimes sealed too. At your child’s exam, Dr. Prane will point out which teeth are good candidates and which don’t need it.
How are sealants put on?
Placing a sealant is quick and comfortable, with no needles and no drilling. Each tooth takes a few minutes, and several can be done at one visit.
- The tooth is cleaned and polished so the grooves are clear
- It’s isolated with cotton or a small shield and dried
- A mild conditioning gel is applied to roughen the enamel slightly, then rinsed off
- The sealant is painted into the grooves
- A curing light hardens it in seconds
- The bite is checked, and any high spot is smoothed
How long do dental sealants last?
Sealants can last for years, often well into the teen years for a child sealed at six. Chewing slowly wears them, and a sealant can chip or lift at an edge, so Dr. Prane checks each one at every exam.
A worn sealant is easy to repair: the area is cleaned and more material is added, usually in a few minutes at a routine visit. Chewing ice, hard candy or pens shortens their life, so it helps to break those habits. Your child can eat normally right after the appointment, and there’s nothing special to do at home beyond regular brushing and flossing.
Are dental sealants safe?
Yes. Sealants have been used for decades, and the American Dental Association and the CDC both recommend them for children. Some parents ask about BPA. The ADA has found that the trace exposure from a sealant is extremely small, less than what people encounter from many everyday sources, and that it passes quickly.
The bigger risk is the cavity a sealant helps prevent, which would need drilling and a filling. Sealants work best as part of a routine that includes fluoride treatment and good brushing habits at home.
Does insurance cover sealants for children?
Many dental plans cover sealants on a child’s permanent molars up to a certain age, since preventing a cavity costs far less than filling one. The age limits and the teeth covered vary from plan to plan.
Our office accepts most insurance, including TriCare and United Concordia plans that many military families at Scott Air Force Base carry, along with Delta and Blue Cross Blue Shield. A treatment coordinator will check your child’s benefits at no charge before the visit. If sealants aren’t covered, we can talk through payment options so the decision is based on your child’s teeth.