Fissure Sealants for Kids: Are They Worth It?
- Star Light Dental
- March 12, 2026
- [email protected]
If you run your tongue over your back teeth you will feel deep grooves in the chewing surfaces. In children those grooves, called fissures, can be narrower than a single toothbrush bristle. Food and bacteria get in, the brush cannot, and that is why most childhood decay starts in exactly that spot.
A fissure sealant closes the grooves before decay can begin. It is one of the simplest, cheapest and best-proven preventive treatments in dentistry.
1. What Is a Fissure Sealant?
A sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured or clear coating that is flowed into the pits and grooves of a back tooth and set hard. It turns a surface full of traps into a smooth one that a toothbrush can clean easily. There is no drilling and no injection, because nothing is removed from the tooth.
2. Do Sealants Actually Work?
Yes, and the evidence is strong. Large reviews of clinical trials consistently show that sealed molars develop far less decay than unsealed ones. Figures from the United States public health agency, the CDC, suggest sealants prevent around 80 per cent of cavities in the back teeth in the first two years, and they keep protecting for years afterwards.
Considering that a sealant takes a few minutes and a filling is for life, it is very good value.
3. When Should My Child Have Them?
The timing follows the adult molars:
- First permanent molars arrive at around six years of age, behind the last baby teeth. Many parents do not realise they are adult teeth.
- Second permanent molars arrive at around twelve.
Teeth are most vulnerable in the first couple of years after they come through, so the ideal time to seal is as soon as the tooth is fully through the gum. Baby molars with very deep grooves, and adult teeth with deep grooves and no fillings, can be sealed too.
4. What Happens at the Appointment?
- The tooth is cleaned and dried.
- A mild conditioning gel is applied for a few seconds so the sealant can grip, then rinsed away.
- The sealant is painted into the grooves.
- A blue curing light sets it hard in about twenty seconds.
It takes a few minutes per tooth, it does not hurt, and your child can eat straight away. It is often a good first treatment for a nervous child, because it shows them how easy a dental visit can be.
5. How Long Do Sealants Last, and Are They Safe?
Sealants commonly last for several years. We check them at every check-up and repair or top them up if a piece has chipped or worn away. They are considered safe by dental and health authorities around the world.
A sealant protects only the chewing surface. The sides of the teeth and the gaps between them still depend on fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth and keeping sugary snacks to mealtimes.
6. What Do They Cost?
Fissure sealants are covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, so for eligible children they can be paid for by Medicare. Star Light Dental is a CDBS provider. Sealants are also covered under general dental by most health fund extras policies, and we accept all health funds. Either way, sealing a tooth costs a fraction of filling it later.
Is Your Child Six or Twelve?
Those are the two key ages. If your child has not had a check-up since their new molars came through, book one and we will let you know whether sealants would help. Call Star Light Dental in Prestons on (02) 9432 2833 or book online. You can read more on our children’s dentistry page.