Does My Child Need Dental Sealants? Everything You Need to Know Before Getting One
If your child finds it hard to brush their back teeth, getting a dental sealant prevents the risk of cavities forming early on.
Because this increases the risk of cavities, a dental sealant can protect your child’s teeth that brushing can’t reach.
Most children between the ages of 6 and 14 benefit from dental sealants (thin protective coatings applied to the back teeth to block the deep grooves where most childhood cavities start).
Both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend dental sealants for school-age children, and research shows they can prevent up to 80% of back tooth cavities in the first two years after placement.
If you’re wondering why your child needs dental sealants and when is the best time, here’s what you need to know.
When Does My Child Need Dental Sealants?
Kids who have a history of cavities, deep grooves in their molars, or find it hard to brush their back teeth thoroughly benefit the most. In fact, children are more susceptible to cavities than adults.
But not every child needs them.
If a child has naturally shallower grooves, a low cavity history, and excellent brushing habits, sealants may be less necessary.
Most school-age children benefit from sealants. Some need them more than others.
Children between 6 and 14 are the strongest candidates, particularly around age 6, when the first permanent molars come in, and again around age 12, when the second permanent molars arrive.
Sealing these teeth as soon as they’re fully in gives your child the most protection during the years when their brushing habits are still being formed and their new teeth are at their most vulnerable.
The best way to know if your child is at risk is through a quick look at their actual teeth during a check-up. If you need an answer right now, you can contact us on our website, or give us a call at 847-249-5700.
Is the Procedure Painful?
No, getting dental sealants doesn’t involve needles, drills, or anything invasive.
How the process works: First, we clean the tooth then apply a mild solution that helps the sealant bond properly. After, we paint the liquid sealant onto the chewing surface, and use a small light to harden it in place.
The whole process takes about a minute per tooth. Most kids barely notice it’s happening.
If your child already handles a regular cleaning without much trouble, sealants will be no different. And for younger or more anxious children, the fact that there’s no drilling or injections involved makes it one of the more manageable procedures to get through.
Read more on what to expect for your child’s 1st dental visit.
Can Kids Eat After Getting Sealants?
The sealant material hardens within minutes, so there’s no long waiting period before your child can eat normally.
However, it’s best to leave some time before eating hard, chewy or sticky foods like candy or caramelized candied treats.
Why Do Kids Need Dental Sealants?
The biggest benefit of getting dental sealants early is fewer cavities.
Research from CDC shows sealants prevent about 80% of cavities in the back teeth in the first two years after placement, and continue protecting against roughly 50% of cavities for up to four years.
For a child between the ages of 6 and 14 when brushing habits are still developing (and the newly erupted permanent molars are at their most vulnerable), that protection covers exactly the window when cavities are most likely to start.
Catching and protecting teeth early matters for development too.
Cavities in baby teeth can affect the spacing and health of permanent teeth waiting to come in. And cavities in newly erupted permanent molars, if left untreated, can become expensive and complicate problems much faster than most parents expect.
What About Baby Teeth?
Dental sealants can also go on baby teeth.
If a young child has deep grooves in their primary molars and is showing early signs of cavity risk, sealing those teeth is worth considering. Baby teeth hold the space that permanent teeth need, and losing them too early can cause alignment problems that follow a child for years.
Is There BPA in Dental Sealants?
Some dental sealants contain a compound called BPA – the same type of chemical you find in water bottles and food containers.
The concern is understandable. But the amount of BPA that dental sealants release is so small it’s difficult to put into context.
The ADA tested 12 different sealant products used in dental offices across the US and found the average sealant released just 0.09 nanograms of BPA per day. The EPA’s proposed daily exposure limit for a 6-year-old is 1 million nanograms (ADA: Bisphenol A and Dental Sealants).
Your child is exposed to more BPA touching a store receipt than from a dental sealant. Both the FDA and ADA have concluded there is no health concern from BPA in dental materials.
The risk of leaving those back teeth unprotected is significantly more real than the risk from the sealant itself.
Why Back Teeth Are So Hard to Protect
Good brushing habits help. But they have limits.
- The back molars have deep grooves and pits on their chewing surfaces that are nearly impossible to clean thoroughly, even with a proper brushing technique.
- Food and bacteria get trapped in those grooves and stay there, and that’s exactly where most cavities in children begin.
In fact, about 90% of cavities in children’s permanent teeth start on the back teeth, not the front.
Sealants fill in those grooves with a thin protective layer, creating a smooth surface that’s easy to brush clean and hard for bacteria to stick to. Think of it as covering a rough, pitted surface with something flat and wipeable. According to the ADA and AAPD’s joint clinical guidelines, sealants are strongly recommended for both primary and permanent molars in children and adolescents, particularly for teeth where the grooves are deep and cavity risk is high.
Brushing gets the surface. Sealants protect what the brush can’t reach.
How Long Will a Dental Sealant Last and How Much They Cost
Dental sealants typically last between five and ten years and are checked at every regular dental visit.
If one chips or wears down, it can be repaired or reapplied quickly. Without insurance, the average cost typically runs $40 to $65 per tooth, which is a fraction of what a single filling costs.
They’re not permanent. But they’re one of the most cost-effective preventive steps in pediatric dentistry.
Schedule a Checkup With Dr. Galvez
when you’re in Park City, Gurnee, or anywhere in Lake County and want a straight answer about whether sealants make sense for your child, the best next step is to schedule a check-up at our clinic – Beautiful Smiles Dental Center.
Dr. Gálvez sees children of all ages, offers Saturday appointments, and same-day visits are often available if you call before noon.
