Will my child feel anything during the application?

No. There are no needles, no drilling, and no discomfort. The tooth is cleaned, a gel is briefly applied, and the sealant is painted on and hardened with a light. Most kids do not even notice it is happening.

Can a sealant fall off?

Sealants can chip or wear over time, especially if your child chews ice or hard candy. We inspect them at every cleaning and reapply as needed at no additional charge during the warranty period. Good brushing habits help sealants last longer.

What if a tooth already has a small cavity?

Sealants are preventive. If a cavity has already formed, the tooth needs a filling . In borderline cases where decay has not yet broken through the enamel, a sealant may be placed over the early lesion to halt its progression.

Does insurance cover sealants?

Most dental plans cover sealants on permanent molars for children up to a certain age. Our front desk team checks your coverage and lets you know before we apply them.

Dental Sealants for Kids | Gig Harbor, WA

Cavity Prevention with Dental Sealants in Gig Harbor

Most childhood cavities form in the deep grooves of back teeth, right where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. Dental sealants solve that problem. At The Kids' Dentist Gig Harbor, we coat those grooves with a BPA-free protective barrier that keeps bacteria and food out. The process is painless, takes about a minute per tooth, and requires zero drilling or numbing. It is one of the simplest, most effective tools in our preventive care program.

How Sealants Protect Teeth

Molars and premolars have natural pits and fissures that trap food particles no matter how well your child brushes. Sealant material flows into these grooves and hardens into a smooth, protective shield. Bacteria can no longer reach the enamel underneath, which means cavities cannot form in those areas.

What the Application Looks Like

Sealant placement is one of the most comfortable procedures in dentistry. Here is the step-by-step:

We clean the tooth and dry it completely
A mild conditioning gel roughens the surface for better adhesion
The gel is rinsed and the tooth is dried again
Liquid sealant material is painted into the grooves
A blue curing light hardens it in a few seconds

Each tooth takes about a minute. Your child can eat and drink right away, and most kids do not even realize the procedure happened.

Best Time to Get Sealants

The ideal window is shortly after each set of permanent molars comes in, before decay has a chance to start. First molars usually erupt around age six, and second molars around age twelve. For children with deep grooves on their baby molars or a higher cavity risk, we may recommend sealing primary teeth as well.

The Numbers Behind Sealants

CDC data shows that sealants reduce cavity risk on treated molars by up to 80%. School-age children without sealants develop nearly three times more first-molar cavities than children with them. With normal brushing and regular checkups, sealants can last several years before they need a touch-up. We check their integrity at every cleaning visit.

Narrows Bridge mural and canopy tree lobby at The Kids' Dentist Gig Harbor

Sealant Questions

Yes. We exclusively use BPA-free sealant materials that have been tested and approved for pediatric use. Sealants have a 40-plus-year safety record and are endorsed by the AAPD, ADA, and CDC.

Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Visit?

Our friendly team is here to help your child feel comfortable and confident.

Call (253) 329-5437

Dental Sealants for Kids in Gig Harbor, WA