Family Dental: How Do Fissure Sealants Work for Protecting Your Child’s Teeth?
As children grow, their oral health needs change quickly. One important milestone many parents do not realise occurs around age six, when the first permanent molars erupt. These adult teeth come through behind the baby molars and do not replace any baby teeth, meaning they are intended to stay in the mouth for life.
Because they erupt silently (often before any baby teeth become wobbly), many parents do not notice these new teeth at all. These first permanent molars play a crucial role in chewing, and like all molars, they have naturally deep pits and grooves, known as fissures, on their biting surfaces.
These grooves can trap plaque and food easily, making them some of the most vulnerable teeth to decay in childhood. This is where fissure sealants, also known as dental fissure sealants or fissure sealants for kids, can provide valuable protection.
In modern family dental care, fissure sealants are a well-established preventive treatment designed to protect children’s teeth during the years they are most at risk.
Why Consider Fissure Sealants for Children?
Before sealants became common, it was extremely typical for adults to have fillings in their first permanent molars due to early decay that developed during childhood. The anatomy of these teeth, especially the deep grooves on the chewing surface, makes them highly plaque-retentive. Even with excellent brushing, the bristles cannot always reach into the tight, narrow pits.
Fissure sealants for children work by covering and smoothing these grooves with a thin layer of protective dental material. This helps prevent plaque and food from settling inside the fissures, significantly lowering the chance of decay forming on the biting surface.
According to the research, pit and fissure sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay in children by acting as a physical barrier over susceptible grooves.
How Do Pit & Fissure Sealants Work?
The process is simple, painless and does not require drilling or local anaesthetic. This makes it a comfortable experience for most children and an ideal preventive option in paediatric dentistry preventive care in Australia.
Here’s what a typical fissure sealant procedure looks like:
1. Cleaning the Tooth Surface
The molar is thoroughly cleaned with air abrasion. This technique uses high-pressure air and fine particles to clean any plaque, food or tartar from inside the grooves of the teeth. It is completely painless and just feels like a bit of sandy wind in your child’s mouth.
2. Etching the Enamel
A gentle etching gel is applied to prepare the surface for bonding. This step creates microscopic roughness so the sealant can adhere securely.
3. Applying the Bond and Sealant Material
The dentist fills a BPA-free resin-based or glass ionomer material into the grooves. This “fills in” the fissures to form a protective barrier. Using BPA-free dental sealants is standard in many practices to ensure safety for children.
4. Light-curing the Sealant
A curing light hardens the sealant within seconds.
5. Checking the Bite
The dentist ensures the sealant is smooth and comfortable for the child.
The entire sealant procedure takes only a few minutes per tooth, which many patients (even children) may be able to tolerate. Now that we understand how helpful fissure sealants are, let’s discuss the best time to have them.
Sealants for First Permanent Molars (Age 6)
The best time to place children’s fissure sealants is shortly after the tooth erupts, usually around ages 6–7 for first molars and around age 12 for second molars. This timing helps ensure the grooves are sealed before plaque or bacteria become trapped inside them.
If too much time passes after an eruption, the grooves may already show early signs of discolouration or bacterial accumulation. In such cases, dentists may monitor the tooth rather than sealing it immediately.
Benefits of Dental Sealants vs Fillings
A key advantage of fissure sealants is that they are preventive. Fissure sealants aim to stop decay before it even starts. Fillings, on the other hand, are usually done when tooth decay has already started. Aside from that, here are some of the benefits patients may experience with dental sealants:
- No drilling is needed
- No local anaesthetic is required
- The natural tooth structure is preserved
- The process is well-tolerated
In a research study, sealants were found to significantly reduce early decay on molar surfaces compared to teeth with no sealants, highlighting the preventive value over restorative treatment.
However, it’s important to remember that while sealants can protect the chewing surfaces of molars, they do not prevent decay between teeth. That is why daily brushing, flossing and a balanced diet remain essential when maintaining dental health.
Sealant Longevity and Reapplication
Sealants can last for several years, but they are not permanent. Biting forces, grinding and normal wear may cause small areas to chip or wear over time. During routine checkups, your dentist will help monitor the sealants (especially when they are also the ones who applied them) and recommend reapplication if needed.
Regular dental visits ensure the sealants remain intact and effective.
Are Sealants Recommended for Baby Molars?
There is limited evidence that sealants may help in certain baby molars, but recommendations are case-by-case. Most commonly, sealants are placed on the first and second permanent molars because these teeth have deeper pits and a higher risk of decay.
A dentist will assess whether a primary molar could benefit based on your child’s specific risk factors.
Your Child’s Smile Deserves Long-Term Protection
Fissure sealants are a simple, effective and painless way to protect the teeth most at risk of decay during childhood. By sealing deep grooves early, ideally as soon as the molars erupt, you can help your child maintain strong, healthy adult teeth right from the start.
If your child is around age six or twelve, you’re unsure whether their permanent molars have erupted, or whether you’re just looking for a family dental clinic in Blackburn, VIC, our team at Whitehorse Dental is here to help you understand the right timing and approach for sealants.
Book an appointment today to ensure your child’s teeth have the protection they need as they grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are fissure sealants?
Fissure sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the deep grooves of molars. They help prevent plaque and food from settling into the pits of the teeth where decay commonly begins.
2. How do fissure sealants protect children’s teeth?
Sealants work by sealing the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of molars, reducing the likelihood of plaque remaining in those areas. This makes the teeth easier to clean and helps lower the risk of developing decay.
3. When should children get fissure sealants?
Sealants are usually recommended shortly after the first permanent molars erupt at around age six, and again when the second permanent molars come through around age twelve. This timing helps protect the grooves before bacteria or debris settle in.
4. Do fissure sealants hurt?
Many patients are able to tolerate it since the procedure is non-invasive and does not require drilling or local anaesthetic. The tooth is cleaned, prepared and the sealant is applied and light-cured within minutes.
- How long do sealants last?
Sealants can last several years but may wear over time. During routine dental checkups, the dentist will review them and recommend reapplication if needed.
6. Are fissure sealants safe for children?
BPA-free materials are commonly used in modern sealants. In a research, fissure sealants were shown to be safe and effective when used as part of preventive dental care.
7. Are baby teeth ever sealed?
Sealants are most commonly applied to permanent molars. In some cases, they may be considered for baby molars, but this depends on the child’s cavity risk and the dentist’s assessment.
