The back teeth that do most of the chewing are also the hardest to keep clean, because their biting surfaces are full of deep grooves where a toothbrush bristle cannot reach. That is exactly where most childhood decay starts. Dental sealants are a thin protective coating painted into those grooves to keep food and bacteria out, and the evidence behind them is genuinely strong. Children who have sealants placed on healthy back molars have around a 76 percent lower risk of developing decay in those teeth compared with children who do not. For a quick, painless treatment, that is a large protective effect.
Key takeaways
- Sealants are a thin coating applied to the grooved chewing surfaces of back teeth to block decay.
- They can reduce the risk of decay in sealed molars by around 76 percent.
- The best time is soon after the adult molars come through, around ages 6 to 7 and again around 11 to 13.
- Placing them is quick, painless and needs no drilling or numbing.
- Many children are eligible for funding through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which can cover sealants.
What a sealant actually is
A sealant is a flowable resin coating that bonds to the chewing surface of a tooth and sets hard, smoothing over the natural pits and grooves. Think of it as filling in the valleys on the tooth's surface so that food and plaque cannot pack into them. Because the bacteria that cause decay can no longer shelter in those deep grooves, the tooth is far easier to keep clean and far less likely to develop a cavity there. Sealants protect the biting surface specifically, which is where groove-related decay starts in children; they do not protect the sides or between the teeth, so brushing and cleaning between the teeth are still needed.
The evidence, briefly
Sealants are one of the better-studied preventive treatments in dentistry. Pooled research shows children and adolescents with sealants on sound molars have roughly a 76 percent lower risk of decay in those teeth than those without, with studies reporting reductions anywhere from about 72 percent up to the 90s depending on follow-up. In one body of follow-up data, sealed teeth had a decay rate of around 29 percent over several years versus around 74 percent for unsealed teeth. The protection is strongest for children at higher risk of decay, which is part of why dentists target them at the teeth and ages where they help most. Despite this, only around a quarter of Australian children aged 6 to 14 have a sealant in place, so there is room for more families to benefit.
When is the right time
Timing matters because a sealant works best on a tooth that has come through but has not yet developed decay. The first adult molars usually appear around age six, and the second adult molars around age twelve. The window soon after each set erupts is the prime time to seal them, before the grooves have had years to accumulate plaque. Baby molars can sometimes be sealed too if a child is at high risk of decay. A dentist checks each tooth and seals the ones that are sound and likely to benefit; a tooth that already has decay needs a filling instead, not a sealant over the top.
What having a sealant placed is like
This is one of the gentlest things done in a dental chair, which makes it a good early positive experience for a nervous child. The tooth is cleaned and dried, a mild gel is applied for a few seconds to help the coating stick, the surface is rinsed and dried again, the liquid sealant is painted on, and a small light sets it hard in seconds. There is no drilling and no need for numbing. The whole thing takes only a few minutes per tooth, and the child can eat straight afterwards. If your child has not been to the dentist before, our guide on the first dental visit explains how to make it easy.
How sealants fit with everything else
Sealants are one layer of protection, not a substitute for the others. They guard the grooved biting surfaces, while fluoride strengthens enamel across the whole tooth and brushing and cleaning between the teeth handle the surfaces sealants do not cover. Our guides on fluoride and on preventing cavities cover the rest of the picture. Used together, these measures give a child the best chance of growing up without fillings.
Cost and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule
General market fees for a sealant are modest compared with a filling, typically a small per-tooth cost, and they are far cheaper than treating the decay they prevent. Importantly, many children are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, a Medicare program that covers a capped amount of basic dental care over a two-year period for eligible families, and sealants are among the services it can fund. Eligibility depends on the family receiving certain government payments. To find out what applies to your child and to see current options, visit our pricing page or get in touch, and we can check CDBS eligibility for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do dental sealants hurt?
No. Placing a sealant involves no drilling and no needle. The tooth is cleaned, the coating is painted on, and a light sets it. It is quick and painless.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants can last several years and often longer. They are checked at regular dental visits and can be topped up or replaced if a part wears away, which keeps the protection going.
At what age should my child get sealants?
The usual windows are soon after the first adult molars appear around age six to seven, and again after the second adult molars appear around eleven to thirteen. Your dentist will advise based on your child's teeth and decay risk.
Can adults get sealants too?
Yes, adults with deep grooves and no decay in their back teeth can benefit, though sealants are most commonly used in children whose new adult molars are most vulnerable.
Are sealants covered by Medicare?
For eligible children, sealants can be covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Eligibility is tied to certain family payments, and we are happy to check it for you.
Sealants are a rare case where a quick, painless, low-cost treatment delivers a large, well-evidenced benefit. For a child with deep grooves in newly erupted molars, they are one of the simplest ways to head off the most common kind of childhood decay before it starts.
