Fissure sealants – also known as ‘pit-and-fissure sealants’ or dental sealants – are a safe, painless way of protecting teeth from decay. They are one of the most effective interventions for preventing caries (tooth decay) in children.

What Are Fissure Sealants?

A sealant is a protective resin coating which is painted onto the grooves of the back teeth. It forms a hard shield on the biting surfaces, keeping food and bacteria from getting stuck in the tiny grooves and causing decay.

Fissure sealants should be applied to the permanent molars of all children as early after eruption as possible, usually between 6 and 7 years of age.

What Should I Expect During Treatment

Your dental team will tell you which teeth can be sealed after an examination of your child’s teeth. We want to ensure the molars have deep grooves—teeth that have shallow grooves are not deep enough for sealing to help.

Fissure sealant treatment is quick and straightforward, usually taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is cleaned and prepared with a solution. After drying, the liquid sealant is painted on and cured (hardened) under a bright light.

The process is painless and the teeth should feel exactly the same afterwards.

Misperceptions About Dental Sealants

Despite clinical research and recommendations by large dental organizations such as the Canadian Dental Organization (CDA), American Dental Association (ADA) and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, dental sealants are underutilized and misunderstood.

For example, some believe that sealants are unsafe for children due to BPA exposure. However, the ADA notes, “The potential amount of BPA patients could be exposed to when receiving sealants is miniscule, and it’s less than the amount a person receives from breathing air or handling a receipt. There is no evidence of patients experiencing adverse effects caused by BPA in dental sealants.” (see source)

Others worry that sealants are not reimbursable under their dental plan. We have found that most plans do cover sealants on children’s teeth up to age 18. There are also cost savings to consider from the prevention of tooth decay, and not having to bring your child into the dentist to receive a filling.

Lastly, many parents believe that fluoride varnish is a similar or preferable treatment. While fluoride varnish is beneficial, dental sealants have been proven to be much more effective in reducing the risk of caries lesions (cavities).

If you would like to learn more about fissure sealants for your child’s teeth, please contact us for an appointment.