Sealants are thin plastic coatings bonded onto the permanent teeth of young children. Your dentist will place them on your children’s teeth between the ages of 6 and 14 years to cover the first and second permanent molars.

By covering the chewing surfaces of the permanent molar teeth, sealants keep out the germs and food that can cause decay.

Sealants should remain bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molars for several years. If a small cavity is accidentally covered by a sealant, the decay will not spread because it is sealed off from its food and germ supply.