Dental Sealants

A sealant is a thin, protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of your molars and premolars — the deep grooves where more than 75% of cavities get their start.

How they help

Those deep pits and fissures are hard to keep clean with a toothbrush alone. Sealants fill in the grooves to create a smoother surface that's much easier to keep plaque-free, protecting the tooth from decay for years at a time.

Who benefits from sealants

• Children & teens: ideal as soon as six-year molars come in, and throughout the cavity-prone years between ages 6–16
• Adults: a good option for decay-free teeth with deep grooves
• Baby teeth: occasionally recommended for kids who are cavity-prone

The process

Applying a sealant takes just minutes per tooth. We clean the tooth, apply a bonding solution, then paint the sealant material into the grooves, where it hardens either on its own or with a curing light. We'll check your sealants at every regular visit to make sure they're holding up well.

Content reviewed by Jamisen Kohlman, DMD — KoLa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Austin, TX.