Children's Dentistry
Sealants & Fluoride
Two quick, painless treatments that prevent a large share of childhood decay.
What it is
The biting surface of a new adult molar is a landscape of narrow grooves that a toothbrush bristle is physically too wide to reach into. Sealing them closes the commonest site of childhood decay.
A sealant is a flowable resin painted into those grooves and set with a light. There is no drilling and no anaesthetic, it takes a few minutes per tooth, and it is checked at each recall in case it needs topping up. The best moment is soon after the tooth arrives, usually around six and again around twelve.
Fluoride varnish is painted onto the teeth two to four times a year depending on risk. It strengthens enamel as it matures and can arrest early decay that has not yet broken through the surface — which is to say, it can save a tooth from needing a filling at all.
Included
What this
involves
Everything below is carried out here, by the clinician who planned it. Anything not on this list is either not needed or will be discussed with you before it is booked.
- Fissure sealants on new adult molars
- Fluoride varnish two to four times a year
- Early decay arrested without drilling
- Sealant checks at every recall
- Brushing and toothpaste coaching
- No injections, no drilling
The aim for a six-year-old is simple: that the dentist is somewhere boring rather than somewhere frightening.
Common questions
Good To Know
- Does it hurt?
- Not at all. Both are painted on — no drilling and no anaesthetic. Most children find the light more interesting than anything else.
- Is fluoride varnish safe?
- Yes, at the doses used. It is applied in tiny quantities directly to the tooth and is one of the best-evidenced preventive treatments in dentistry.
- How long do sealants last?
- Several years, but they wear and chip. We check them at every visit and top them up when needed, which is why the recall matters.
More in this area
Children's Dentistry
First Dental Visit
A short, friendly appointment that usually involves nothing more than counting.
Learn MoreFillings & Cavities
Treating decay in baby and adult teeth, explained to the child before it happens.
Learn MoreSpace Maintainers
Holding the gap when a baby tooth is lost early, so the adult tooth has somewhere to come.
Learn More
Considering sealants & fluoride?
Come in for a consultation. We will examine, explain and give you a written plan with a price against every item — then you decide, in your own time.