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Pre-treatment

Your Guide to Fissure Sealants

Learn how fissure sealants protect the biting surfaces of back teeth from decay, what treatment involves, and who is most likely to benefit.

3 min read

What are fissure sealants?

Fissure sealants are thin coatings that protect the teeth. They are painted onto the biting surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars). These teeth have deep grooves and pits (fissures). Food and germs (bacteria) can collect there and cause decay, even if you brush carefully.

The sealant flows into the grooves and sets hard. This makes a smooth surface that is easy to clean. It helps protect the tooth from decay.

Who benefits most from fissure sealants?

Sealants are most often advised for:

  • Children and teenagers, mainly once the adult back teeth have come through (usually between ages 6 and 14)
  • People with deep grooves in their teeth that are hard to clean
  • People with a higher risk of decay. This may be because of diet, a dry mouth, or finding it harder to keep their teeth really clean.

Adults can benefit too, if their back teeth have deep grooves and no decay or fillings. Delivering Better Oral Health (Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England) and SDCEP guidance recommend fissure sealants on the adult (permanent) back teeth of children and young people at higher risk of decay.

What happens during treatment?

Putting on a sealant is quick and painless. There are no injections and no drilling:

  1. The tooth is cleaned and dried
  2. A mild acid liquid is put on for a short time. This helps the sealant stick to the enamel.
  3. The tooth is rinsed and dried again
  4. The liquid sealant is painted into the grooves
  5. A blue light is shone on it for a few seconds to harden it
  6. The bite is checked and any extra is trimmed off

It takes just a few minutes for each tooth. It is completely comfortable.

How well do sealants work?

Research shows that sealants greatly lower the risk of decay on the biting surfaces of back teeth. But they cannot promise you will never get a hole (cavity). They need to be:

  • Checked at every dental visit, as they can wear down or chip over time
  • Put on again if they get damaged or lost
  • Used alongside good tooth cleaning and a low-sugar diet, for the best results

Sealants only protect the biting surface. You still need to brush and floss the sides and the gaps between your teeth carefully.

Risks and things to know

Fissure sealants have a long, proven safety record. The risks are small:

  • Rarely, a very early patch of decay that cannot be seen may get sealed in. Your dental team will take X-rays from time to time to check for this.
  • Some people are allergic to the materials. This is extremely rare.
  • Sealants may change your bite very slightly at first. This settles quickly.

Questions to ask your dental team

  • Which of my teeth (or my child's teeth) would benefit most from sealants?
  • How will you check there is no early decay under the surface before sealing?
  • How often should sealants be checked, and how long do they usually last?

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. It is intended to support — not replace — the discussion with your dental team about your individual options, risks, and treatment plan. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances. Your dental team will confirm exact fees and what is suitable for your specific circumstances before you agree to any treatment.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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For clinicians: Child Dental Exam notes template, Fissure Sealant notes template, Hall Crown (Paediatric) notes template.

Learn more about dental documentation on our blog or see Nosht pricing.

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