A Parents Guide to Dental Sealants for Kids
Written and reviewed by Dr. Dina Chehab, DDS, board-certified pediatric dentist. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Quick answer: Dental sealants for kids are thin, tooth-colored coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of your child's back teeth. According to the CDC, they prevent about 80% of cavities in those teeth for two years and keep protecting against about 50% of cavities for up to four years. Applying them is quick, painless, and needs no needles or drilling.
What are dental sealants for kids?
A dental sealant is a liquid resin that we paint onto the grooves of the molars and premolars, then harden with a curing light. Once set, it forms a smooth shield over the deep pits and fissures where food and bacteria hide.
Those grooves are often narrower than a toothbrush bristle, so even kids who brush well can't fully clean them. That's why most childhood cavities in permanent teeth start on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The CDC reports that about 9 in 10 cavities in children's permanent teeth occur there.
How well do sealants prevent cavities?
Sealants are one of the best-studied tools in pediatric dentistry. The CDC reports that:
Sealants prevent about 80% of cavities in the back teeth for the first two years.
They continue to protect against about 50% of cavities for up to four years, and can stay effective for years longer with check-ups.
Children aged 6 to 11 without sealants have almost three times as many first-molar cavities as children who have them.
Preventing a cavity is also cheaper than treating one. A sealant typically costs less than a filling, and many dental insurance plans cover sealants on permanent molars for children. Check your plan for age limits.
What is the best age for dental sealants?
The best time is soon after the permanent molars come in, before decay has a chance to start:
First permanent molars: usually around age 6
Second permanent molars: usually around age 12
Because every child's teeth erupt on their own schedule, Dr. Dina checks at each visit whether a newly erupted molar is ready to seal. Teens and adults can also benefit, especially if they have deep grooves and no existing fillings on those teeth.
Is my child a good candidate?
At our Ijamsville office, we often recommend sealants for children who:
Have had cavities before, or have siblings with a history of decay
Have deep pits and fissures on their molars
Have weak or defective enamel
Struggle to keep plaque off their back teeth
Wear braces or other orthodontic appliances that make brushing harder
Should baby teeth get sealants?
Sometimes. Sealants aren't routine for baby teeth, but we may recommend them when a child is at high risk for cavities or already has decay in other baby molars.
Baby teeth matter more than many parents expect. They hold space for permanent teeth, help your child chew and speak, and a painful cavity can affect eating, sleep, and focus at school. Sealing a high-risk baby molar can help avoid a filling or crown later.
What happens during the sealant appointment?
The whole process takes a few minutes per tooth, and most kids find it easy. It can usually be done during a regular check-up.
Clean: We clean and dry each tooth to remove plaque and food debris.
Prepare: We apply a mild gel for a few seconds so the sealant bonds well, then rinse and dry the tooth again.
Paint: We brush the liquid sealant into the grooves of the tooth.
Harden: A special blue curing light sets the sealant in seconds.
There's no numbing, no drilling, and your child can eat normally right after the visit.
Are dental sealants safe for kids?
Yes. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend sealants for children and teens, and they've been used for decades.
Some parents ask about BPA. The ADA explains that sealants can release a very small, short-lived trace of BPA in the first few hours after placement, and that current evidence shows no health concern from dental materials. Everyday exposure from food and drink packaging is far greater. To reduce even that trace amount, we rinse and polish each sealant right after it's placed.
If your child has a known allergy to resins or acrylics, tell us before the appointment.
How long do sealants last, and how do I care for them?
Sealants can last several years, and many hold up through the teen years. Chewing wears them down gradually, so we check them at every six-month visit and touch them up or reapply them when needed.
Sealants protect the chewing surfaces, not the whole tooth, so everyday habits still matter:
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. An electric toothbrush can help kids clean more thoroughly.
Floss once a day to clean between teeth, where sealants don't reach.
Limit sugary snacks and drinks between meals.
Avoid chewing ice or hard candy, which can chip a sealant.
Keep regular dental check-ups so we can spot wear early.
Frequently asked questions
Do dental sealants hurt? No. Placing sealants is painless and needs no shots or drilling.
Can sealants be placed over a cavity? Sealants can be placed over very early, non-cavitated spots in the enamel to help stop them from growing. A true cavity needs a filling first.
Will my child notice the sealant? The tooth may feel slightly smooth or different for a day or two. Most kids stop noticing it quickly.
Does insurance cover sealants? Many dental plans cover sealants on permanent molars for children, often up to a certain age. Our team can check your benefits before the visit; see our financial and insurance page.
Dental sealants for kids in Ijamsville and Urbana, MD
Dr. Dina Chehab is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry who cares for infants, children and teens. Sealants are part of our preventive dental care for families across Urbana, Ijamsville and the Frederick area. If a tooth already has a cavity, read about our pediatric restorative dentistry options.
Urbana Pediatric Dentistry, 3280 Urbana Pike, Suite 203, Ijamsville, MD 21754 · 301-882-3105. Schedule your child's appointment, meet Dr. Dina, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
