Children's dentistry
What are dental sealants, and does my child need them?
A sealant is a thin protective coating painted onto the chewing surface of back teeth, sealing the deep grooves where decay starts. It's quick and painless, and works best soon after the molars come through.
What a sealant actually does
The chewing surfaces of the back teeth aren't smooth — they're a landscape of tiny pits and grooves, and those grooves are often narrower than a single toothbrush bristle. Food and bacteria settle down in there where no brush can reach, which is exactly why so many childhood cavities start on the molars. A sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured coating we flow into those grooves and set firm, so the surface becomes smooth and easy to keep clean.
There's no drilling and no numbing — we clean the tooth, paint the sealant on, and harden it with a light. Your child is in and out in minutes, and it can cut the chance of decay on those teeth dramatically.
When is the right time?
The sweet spot is soon after a tooth arrives, while its grooves are still fresh and cavity-free. That usually means the first adult molars around age six, and the second molars near twelve. Sealing them early is about as gentle as prevention gets — we protect the tooth before anything ever needs repairing.
Sealants don't replace brushing, flossing and check-ups; they work alongside them. We'll check the sealants at each visit and simply top one up if it wears, so the protection carries on quietly in the background.
Common questions
Does putting a sealant on hurt?
Not at all. There's no drilling and nothing to numb — we clean the tooth, paint on the coating and set it with a light. Most children are surprised at how quick and easy it is.
Are sealants only for children?
They're most valuable on freshly erupted molars, so children benefit most. Adults with deep, cavity-free grooves can sometimes have them too — mention it at your check-up and we'll take a look.