Dental sealants

The chewing surfaces of the back teeth have tiny grooves and pits. These grooves are so small that toothbrush bristles cannot reach into them to clean away food and bacteria.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that cover the grooves on the chewing surface of the back teeth. They help to prevent tooth decay by creating a smooth surface that is much easier to keep clean. Sealants were developed in the 1960s and have been widely used ever since.

How tooth decay happens#

Everyone has the bacteria that cause tooth decay living in their mouth. When you eat sugary foods, the bacteria feed on them too and produce acid, which damages the tooth surface (the enamel).

Saliva (spit) contains minerals that help repair the tooth surface. Fluoride, found in toothpaste and in many water supplies, also helps to repair this damage.

However, if over time there is more acid damage than repair, a cavity or hole forms in the tooth surface. Sealants fill up the small grooves or fissures in the back teeth, keeping food and bacteria out and helping to prevent decay.

Benefits of dental sealants#

Dental sealants:

• are white or clear
• fill and block up the small pits and grooves in the teeth to prevent decay
• take only a few minutes to apply
• do not cause pain
• do not require any injections or drilling
• do not dissolve in saliva
• are safe

Sealants are put on by an oral health professional, such as a dentist, dental therapist or oral health therapist. They usually last from two to seven years, but may last much longer. Sealants need to be checked regularly by your oral health professional.

When sealants may be used#

Most decay starts in the narrow pits and grooves on the biting surfaces of the back teeth (molars). The permanent molars have the highest risk of tooth decay and benefit the most from dental sealants. For most children, the first permanent molars come through at about six or seven years of age and the second molars at about 11 or 12 years.

As the molars come through, they are at greater risk of tooth decay because they are further back in the mouth and may not be cleaned as well as the front teeth. At these times it is particularly important to keep up with your child’s regular dental check-ups.

How dental sealants are put on#

The oral health professional will:

• prepare the teeth by cleaning and drying them
• put on the sealant – a thin layer of plastic liquid is painted into the pit, similar to the way nail polish is painted onto a fingernail
• set the sealant – the sealant is hardened using a special light

Other tips to help prevent tooth decay#

Steps you can take to help prevent tooth decay include:

• Brush all surfaces of your teeth, including along the gum line, twice a day – in the morning and before bed.
• From 18 months of age, use a fluoride toothpaste. Use a low-fluoride children’s toothpaste for children aged 18 months to six years, and a standard fluoride toothpaste from six years of age.
• Eat a wide variety of nutritious foods and limit sugary foods and drinks, especially between meals.
• Drink plenty of tap water. Where the drinking water contains fluoride, this helps to repair damage to teeth.
• Have regular dental check-ups. Ask your oral health professional how often you should have a check-up.

Key points#

• Sealants help to prevent tooth decay by creating a smooth surface that is easier to clean.
• Everyone has the bacteria that cause tooth decay living in their mouth.
• The permanent molars have the highest risk of tooth decay and benefit the most from dental sealants.
• As new molars come through, it is particularly important to keep up with your child’s regular dental check-ups.

Where to get help#