Getting your child’s teeth protected from cavities can be a constant struggle. Children love to eat sugary snacks but often struggle to brush their teeth properly. Their small hands don’t have great fine motor skills so can struggle to reach all the little areas of their mouth. Their back teeth have lots of deep grooves and pits which can trap food and harmful bacteria.

Dental sealants are a simple and pain free way to protect your child’s teeth from decay. This guide will help you learn all about dental sealants.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin protective film which is painted onto the biting surfaces of your child’s back teeth. The sealant will quickly bond to the deep pits and grooves of the teeth.

  • Physical Protection: The sealant will protect the teeth from food, plaque and acid producing bacteria.

  • Easier to Clean: The smooth surface will make it much easier to clean your child’s teeth.

  • Targeted Protection: The dentist will place sealants onto your child’s molars and pre-molars as these are the teeth which do most of the chewing and will trap the most food.

  • Invisible: Most dental sealants will be clear/white or slightly colored so will blend in with your child’s smile.

Why Do Children Need Dental Sealants?

Children are much more likely to get tooth decay than adults. Their enamel is much thinner and weaker meaning it can be easily worn away by bacteria in their mouth.

  • Deep Grooves: Permanent molars have very deep natural grooves. The bristles on a toothbrush can sometimes be too thick to reach the bottom of these narrow grooves.

  • Poor Brushing Technique: Young children rarely brush for two minutes and often miss brushing the back molars.

  • High Sugar Diet: Children often eat lots of snacks, juice and sticky foods.

  • Avoid Pain In The Future: Using a sealant will avoid your child having to have fillings or toothache in the future.

Which Teeth Should Be Sealed?

Dentists won’t place sealants onto all of your child’s teeth. They will only place them on the back teeth.

  • First Permanent Molars: These erupt behind your child’s baby teeth at around 6 years old. It is strongly recommended to place sealants as soon as possible.

  • Second Permanent Molars: These erupt further back in your child’s mouth at around 12 years old. It is recommended to place sealants as soon as possible to avoid decay in the teenage years.

  • Deep Baby Molars: On occasion dentists will place sealants onto your child’s baby molars if they show signs of being at a higher risk of tooth decay.

  • Deep Pits On Pre-Molars: Some children will have deep grooves on their pre-molars. These are a great candidate for sealants.

When Should Children Get Sealants?

Getting sealants done at the right time will give the best results. You should get your child’s new permanent molars sealed as soon as they start to erupt.

  • 6 Years Old: Book an appointment with your pediatric dentist when your child turns 6 to seal their first set of permanent molars.

  • 12 Years Old: Book another appointment when your child is 12 years old for their second set of permanent molars to be sealed.

As soon as your child’s teeth have erupted it is best to seal them to protect the enamel.

Your dentist will check your child’s teeth during their 6 monthly check-ups to see if any new molars are starting to erupt.

How Are Sealants Applied?

Many children are scared to go to the dentist as they are worried about pain. Luckily, sealants are completely pain free, quick and non-invasive. No drilling, numbing or cutting of the tooth.

  • Clean The Tooth: The dentist or hygienist will clean the tooth using a special paste.

  • Dry The Tooth: The tooth will be fully dried using air. Cotton rolls will be placed around the tooth to avoid saliva getting onto the tooth.

  • Etch The Tooth: The dentist will apply a mild acidic gel onto the biting surface of the tooth for a few seconds. This will roughen up the enamel to help the sealant stick.

  • Rinse & Dry: The assistant will rinse off the gel with water. The tooth will then be dried.

  • Apply Sealant: The dentist will carefully paint the liquid sealant into the deep grooves and pits.

  • Cure With Blue Light: The dentist will shine a special blue light onto the tooth for around 30 seconds. This will harden the liquid plastic.

Are Sealants Safe For Children?

Parents often ask about the safety of the materials used in their child’s mouth. Dental associations around the world consider dental sealants to be very safe.

  • BPA: Some parents are concerned about Bis phenol A (BPA) in plastics. Dental sealants contain very little BPA. Less than your child would inhale from the air or absorb from touching cash.

  • No Pain: As the dentist is only working on the outside of the enamel your child won’t feel any pain.

  • No Cutting: No cutting or drilling will be needed.

  • Used Safely By Pediatric Dentists: Pediatric dentists have been safely using sealants on millions of children’s smiles for over 50 years.

How Long Do Sealants Last?

Sealants will last for a long time however they won’t last forever. The normal chewing forces will slowly wear the sealant away.

  • Average: A correctly applied sealant can protect your child’s teeth for up to 9-10 years.

  • Most Protection: Studies have shown that sealants can reduce the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80% in the first 2 years.

  • Protection For Up To 4 Years: Sealants will still protect your child from nearly 50% of cavities for up to 4 years.

  • Regular Check-Ups: During your child’s regular check-ups their dentist will check the sealants. If they become worn they can easily be touched up in seconds.

How To Care For Teeth With Sealants

Sealants provide fantastic protection but you should still encourage good oral hygiene. Encourage your child to look after their teeth.

  • Brush Twice A Day: Ensure your child is brushing their teeth for 2 minutes twice a day. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

  • Floss Daily: Floss between your child’s teeth using dental floss or child friendly floss picks. This will remove plaque from areas not protected by the sealant.

  • Avoid Sticky Sweets: Try to limit your child eating chewy sweets, fruit snacks and gummy vitamins.

  • Avoid Chewing Hard Objects: Encourage your child to not chew on hard ice cubes, metal pen tops or hard sweets.

Sealants vs Fillings

Many parents get confused between sealants and fillings. They are completely different.

  • Prevention: Sealants are used to prevent cavities from forming. Fillings are used to repair damaged teeth.

  • No Drilling: Sealants are placed on top of the enamel. No drilling is required. Fillings require drilling to remove decay.

  • No Numbing: No numbing is required when placing a sealant. Fillings usually require a local anesthetic.

  • Cost: Sealants are much cheaper than fixing a cavity.

How Much Do Sealants Cost?

Sealants are a cheap way to prevent expensive dental treatments in the future. Investing in prevention will save you a lot of money.

  • Average Cost: On average sealants cost between $30-$60 per tooth.

  • Insurance: Most dental insurance will fully cover sealants for children under 14 years old.

  • Save A Lot Of Money: By preventing a cavity you will save money on fillings, root canals and bespoke crowns in the future.

Many public schools have free or cheap sealant program-mes for young children.

What If My Child’s Sealant Falls Off?

Whilst the sealant is bonded to the enamel of the tooth, sometimes the sealant can chip or fall off due to hard chewing forces.

  • Don’t Panic: This isn’t an emergency.

  • Book An Appointment: Book an appointment with your pediatric dentist. They will check the tooth.

  • Quick Fix: The dentist can easily clean the tooth, etch the enamel and place new sealant in a matter of minutes.

  • Regular Check-Ups: During your child’s 6 monthly check-ups their dentist will check for any loose or worn sealants.

Summary Checklist

  • Ask your pediatric dentist about sealants when your child’s first permanent molars start to come through (around 6 years old).

  • Book an appointment to get your child’s second set of permanent molars checked for sealants (around 12 years old).

  • Reassure your child that getting sealants is completely pain free, quick and there will be no loud drilling or sharp needles.

  • Ensure your child has a good routine at home. They should be brushing for 2 minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.

  • Encourage your child to floss daily between all their teeth.

  • Try to limit your child eating sticky foods, sugary drinks and chewing on ice.

  • Check your dental insurance to see if sealants are fully covered.

  • Take your child to the dentist every 6 months so their dentist can check, touch up or replace any worn sealants.

FAQ

Can a tooth with a sealant still get a cavity?

Yes, if plaque builds up on the sides of the tooth (which aren’t sealed) or the sealant has become damaged then your child could still get a cavity. Sealants protect the deep grooves but it is still important to brush and floss daily.

Can adults get sealants?

On occasion dentists will place sealants onto adult teeth. If they have deep grooves, healthy unfilled molars and are at a high risk of getting cavities. However, sealants are much more commonly covered by dental insurance for children and teens.

Can a dentist place a sealant over a small cavity?

If your dentist spots micro decay at the very earliest stage they may place a clear sealant over the area. This will starve the bacteria of oxygen and food. However, if the cavity has broken through the enamel then a traditional filling will be placed.

What If My Child Swallowed A Piece Of Their Chipped Sealant?

Sealants are made from non-toxic materials. If a small piece chips off and your child swallows it then it will pass through their digestive system with no issues.