Dental Sealants

At Essex Street Dental Medicine in Salem, MA, we believe the best cavity is the one that never happens. Sealants are one of the simplest, most proven tools we have for preventing decay, especially in children's newly erupted molars, and we recommend them at the right moments in your child's development rather than as an afterthought. We make the application quick and comfortable, check existing sealants at every visit, and touch them up when needed. It is a few minutes of prevention that can spare your child fillings, discomfort, and cost down the road.

Clean

The tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried so the sealant can bond properly to the chewing surface.

Prepare

A gentle conditioning gel is applied briefly to the grooves, then rinsed away, helping the sealant grip the enamel securely.

Apply

The liquid sealant is painted into the grooves and pits of the tooth, flowing into the areas a toothbrush cannot reach.

Harden

A special curing light hardens the sealant in seconds, creating a smooth, protective shield. Your child can eat normally right away.

Dental sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent cavities. They flow into the deep grooves where food and bacteria collect, places toothbrush bristles often cannot reach, and harden into a smooth barrier. They are one of the most effective preventive treatments in dentistry, especially for children.

The ideal times are shortly after the permanent molars erupt: around age six for the first molars and around age twelve for the second molars. Sealing these teeth soon after they come in protects them during the most cavity-prone years. We evaluate each child's teeth and recommend sealants at the right moments in their development.

Not at all. Applying sealants requires no numbing, no drilling, and no removal of tooth structure. The tooth is simply cleaned, conditioned, painted with the sealant, and cured with a light. The whole process takes just a few minutes per tooth, and children can eat and drink normally immediately afterward.

Sealants typically last several years, often five to ten, before needing reapplication. They gradually wear with normal chewing, so we check them at every regular visit and touch up or reapply as needed. As long as the sealant remains intact, it continues protecting the tooth's chewing surface from decay.

The cost of sealants depends on how many teeth are being treated, since sealants are applied per tooth and not every tooth needs one. Sealants are generally included as a preventive benefit for children under most dental plans, though plans differ in how many teeth they cover, up to what age, and how often. Give our office your plan information and we will verify your child's benefits before treatment. What makes sealants worth asking about is what they prevent, since the chewing surfaces of the back molars have deep grooves a toothbrush cannot reach into, and a sealed tooth that stays healthy never needs to be drilled and filled.

Very effective. Studies show sealants reduce the risk of decay in the chewing surfaces of molars by about 80 percent in the first two years and continue providing substantial protection for years afterward. The CDC reports children without sealants get nearly three times more cavities in their molars than children with them.

Yes. While sealants are most commonly applied to children's newly erupted molars, adults with deep grooves in their back teeth and no existing decay or fillings in those grooves can benefit too, particularly adults who are cavity-prone. We can evaluate whether sealants make sense as part of your preventive care.

Yes. Dental sealants have been used safely for decades and are endorsed by the American Dental Association and the CDC as a safe, effective preventive treatment. Exposure to any materials of concern is negligible, far below any level associated with harm, and the protection sealants provide against decay is substantial and well documented.

Absolutely. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces, but cavities can still form between teeth and along the gum line, areas sealants do not cover. Daily brushing and flossing, fluoride, a sensible diet, and regular cleanings and exams remain essential. Sealants are a powerful addition to good oral hygiene, not a replacement for it.