A Simple Way to Stop Cavities Before They Start
Dental sealants are a thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth, sealing out the food and bacteria that cause decay in hard-to-clean grooves.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Boris Zusin, DDS, FAGD, MBA, MS, Diplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) · Last reviewed July 31, 2026
Protecting the Grooves a Toothbrush Can't Reach
The chewing surfaces of molars and premolars are covered in tiny grooves and pits that are narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, making them a common spot for cavities to start — even in patients with otherwise good brushing habits. A sealant fills in those grooves with a smooth, durable coating that keeps decay-causing bacteria and food particles out.
Am I a Candidate?
Good candidates for sealants include:
- Children and teens with newly erupted permanent molars
- Adults with deep grooves in their back teeth and no decay or existing fillings
- Anyone who's cavity-prone in their back teeth despite good brushing habits
How Well Sealants Actually Work
This isn't a marginal precaution — sealants are one of the most well-evidenced preventive treatments in dentistry.
A Large, Consistent Effect
Across controlled studies, sealed molars develop roughly 11–51% fewer cavities than unsealed ones over two years — and other analyses put the reduction in new occlusal decay at around 76% over 2–3 years. This is a substantial, well-replicated benefit, not a marginal one.
Preventive and Therapeutic
Sealants aren't only for perfectly healthy teeth — sealing over a very early, non-cavitated spot of decay (before it's an actual hole) can stop it from progressing further, sealing the bacteria off from its food supply.
Retention Matters
A sealant only works while it's intact. Resin sealants stay fully in place roughly 80% of the time at 1–2 years, declining to around 70% by 4–5 years, which is exactly why we check them at your routine cleanings and simply touch up or reapply any that have worn thin.
Which Material We Use, and Why
There's no single “best” sealant material overall — the right choice depends mainly on how well we can keep the tooth dry during placement.
| Material | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Resin-based | A fully erupted tooth we can keep completely dry — the best long-term retention | Needs a dry field to bond properly |
| Glass ionomer | A partially erupted tooth, or anywhere moisture control is difficult | Releases fluoride and tolerates moisture, but doesn't hold up quite as long |
| Resin-modified glass ionomer | In-between cases needing more working time than plain glass ionomer | A middle ground on both moisture tolerance and retention |
One honest note: while sealants are strongly supported for permanent molars, the evidence specifically for primary (baby) molars is less established, partly because their fissures are flatter and sealants don't retain quite as well there. We still recommend them selectively for higher-risk baby teeth, but the strongest, best-documented benefit is for permanent molars as they come in.
Care From a Team That Knows You
Dr. Boris Zusin is an expert in general, cosmetic, implant, and dental sleep medicine, with 30+ years of clinical experience and ongoing continuing education. Lena Zusin, RDH works alongside him to make every visit as warm and comfortable as possible.
“Drawing upon our combined skills refined through years of experience and continued education, Lena and I will do everything possible to ensure that your entire dental experience at our office is as good as possible.” — Dr. Boris Zusin
- Uncompromising clinical excellence
- Meticulous attention to detail
- A gentle approach to dentistry
FAQ: Dental Sealants at Zusin Dental, NYC
A thin, protective coating painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars and premolars), where deep grooves and pits are hardest to keep clean with a toothbrush alone. The sealant bonds into those grooves and forms a smooth barrier that keeps food and bacteria out.
Children and teens benefit the most, since sealants are typically applied to permanent molars soon after they come in — before decay has a chance to start. That said, adults with deep grooves and no decay or fillings in a molar can benefit from sealants too.
No — it's quick, painless, and doesn't require anesthesia or any drilling. The tooth is cleaned and dried, a mild etching gel is applied to help the sealant bond, then the sealant material is painted on and hardened with a curing light. The whole process takes just a few minutes per tooth.
Sealants typically last several years with normal wear, and we check them at your routine cleanings to make sure they're intact. If a sealant wears down or chips, it can usually be touched up or reapplied.
No — sealants only protect the chewing surfaces of back teeth. You still need to brush and floss normally to protect the rest of your teeth, including the surfaces between teeth that sealants don't cover.
Many dental insurance plans cover sealants, especially for children and teens, since they're considered a preventive treatment. We can check your specific benefits before your visit.
Resin sealants can contain a trace amount of BPA, but clinical research has found no evidence that this poses a health risk — the amount involved is extremely small, and no adverse effects have been documented in sealant trials. If it's still a concern for your child, a glass-ionomer sealant is a BPA-free alternative we're happy to discuss.
Learn More From Our Blog
Sources
- Pit and Fissure Sealants for Preventing Dental Decay in Permanent Teeth — Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Forss H, Walsh T, et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2017)
- Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Pit-and-Fissure Sealants: A Report of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — Wright JT, Crall JJ, Fontana M, et al., Journal of the American Dental Association (2016)
- Sealants for Preventing Dental Caries in Primary Teeth — Ramamurthy P, Rath A, Sidhu P, et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2022)
- Pit and Fissure Sealants Versus Fluoride Varnishes for Preventing Dental Decay in the Permanent Teeth of Children and Adolescents — Kashbour W, Gupta P, Worthington HV, Boyers D, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2020)
- Screening, Referral, Behavioral Counseling, and Preventive Interventions for Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: A Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force — Chou R, Bougatsos C, Griffin J, et al., JAMA (2023)
- Caries-Preventive Effect and Retention of Glass-Ionomer and Resin-Based Sealants: A Randomized Clinical Comparative Evaluation — Uzel I, Gurlek C, Kuter B, Ertugrul F, Eden E, BioMed Research International (2022)
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