A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating that fills in the grooves of molars and premolars. These grooves collect plaque, a film of food and bacteria. Toothbrush bristles usually can’t reach the plaque that accumulates within the grooves, and this can cause decay.

When should your child get sealants?

We recommend applying dental sealants to teeth as soon as the permanent molars come out, usually between the ages of 5-7 for the first molars, and between ages 11-14 for the second set of molars and the premolars. As the wear out, they should be replaced.

How are sealants applied?

After we clean and dry the teeth, we apply a special solution that slightly roughens their surface. This increases the bonds strength. We paint the dental sealant on and harden it with a harmless high intensity light, forming a protective shield against decay.