Protect your back teeth before cavities start. Fissure sealants give your molars extra protection, so you’re less likely to deal with surprise decay, fillings, and extra appointments later.
Fissure sealants are a protective coating placed into the grooves of your back teeth. Those grooves are where cavities often start, so sealing them helps protect your molars and lowers the chance you’ll need dental work later.
Fissure sealants are one of the easiest preventive treatments you can have. There’s no drilling, and most patients don’t need an injection, so it’s usually done in one quick visit.
Each fissure sealant treatment includes:
Your child has new adult molars coming through
You or your teen have had cavities in back teeth before
Your molars have deep grooves that trap food and plaque
You notice staining in the grooves and pits even with thorough brushing
You want an easy way to reduce your risk of future decay
Fissure sealants can last for several years. How long they hold up depends on chewing forces and wear. We check them during your regular visits and can touch them up or reapply them if they’ve worn down.
Sealants work best on teeth that don’t have cavities. If we notice an early cavity starting, we’ll take a close look and talk with you about the best next step. That might mean keeping an eye on it, treating it with a small filling, or choosing another preventive option to protect the tooth.
Yes. Sealants are commonly used for kids and teens, especially when adult molars first come through. They’re quick to apply and don’t involve drilling.
A fissure sealant is placed on a healthy tooth to help lower the risk of decay starting in the chewing grooves. A filling is used when a cavity is already present – it removes the decay and repairs the tooth.
