Are dental sealants safe for kids? What parents should know

The short answer

Yes. Dental sealants are considered safe for children by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sealants have been used for decades and are among the most studied preventive treatments in dentistry. The CDC reports that sealants prevent about 80% of cavities in back teeth for two years after they're placed and continue to protect against about 50% of cavities for up to four years. Children aged 6 to 11 without sealants have almost three times more first-molar cavities than children with them.

That said, it's completely reasonable to ask questions about anything that goes into your child's mouth. The rest of this guide explains the details behind the short answer, so you can make an informed choice with your child's dentist.

What sealants are made of

There are two main families of sealant materials:

• Resin-based sealants are the most common. They're made from plastic-like dental resins that flow into the grooves of a tooth and are hardened in seconds with a special curing light. They're durable and bond tightly to enamel when the tooth is kept dry.
• Glass ionomer sealants are made from a glass powder and an acid that react to form a hard material. They bond to the tooth chemically and release a small amount of fluoride over time.

Both are placed only on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Placement doesn't involve needles, numbing, or drilling. The tooth is cleaned, conditioned so the material can bond, kept dry, and then the sealant is painted on. You can see the full step-by-step process on our dental sealants service page.

What about BPA?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make some plastics and the linings of many food and drink cans. Some parents have read that dental sealants contain BPA and understandably want to know more.

Do sealants contain BPA?

Most resin sealants aren't made with BPA itself. Some are made with ingredients that are derived from it. Right after placement, a trace amount of BPA can sometimes be detected in saliva, coming from the thin surface layer of material that hasn't fully hardened. Research has found that this exposure is extremely small and temporary, typically gone within hours.

How does that compare to everyday exposure?

The ADA has reviewed the research and concluded that the very low level of BPA exposure from dental sealants isn't considered harmful. It's lower than what people take in from common everyday sources such as food packaging and handling paper receipts.

Ways to reduce exposure even further

• Having your child rinse their mouth right after the sealant is placed removes most of the surface layer where trace amounts are found.
• Ask about glass ionomer sealants, which don't contain resin.
• Keep in mind that the protection lasts for years, while any trace exposure lasts for hours.

Resin vs. glass ionomer sealants

Both types protect teeth. The right choice depends on your child's teeth, how cooperative they can be during placement, and how easy the tooth is to keep dry.

Sometimes a glass ionomer sealant is placed on a molar that's still coming in, then replaced with a resin sealant once the tooth is fully erupted and easier to keep dry.

Weighing the benefits and risks

Every health decision involves balancing benefits against possible downsides. With sealants, the balance strongly favors protection for most children.

Benefits

• Strong, well-documented cavity prevention on the teeth most likely to decay
• Painless and quick, with no needles or drilling
• Protects new permanent molars during the years they're most vulnerable
• Usually less expensive than treating a cavity

Possible downsides

• Wear or chipping. Sealants can wear down or partly come off. That's why they're checked at every checkup and touched up when needed.
• Trace BPA exposure from some resin products, which is minimal and temporary, as explained above.
• Allergy to sealant materials is very rare. Let your dentist know about any known allergies to dental or acrylic materials.

Can sealants trap decay under them?

Some parents worry that a sealant could hide a cavity. Evidence-based guidelines from the ADA and AAPD actually support placing sealants on molars that have very early weak spots (areas that haven't broken through the enamel). Sealing these spots cuts off the bacteria's food supply, which can help stop the weak spot from progressing.

A tooth with an actual cavity (a hole in the enamel) is different. It needs a filling rather than a sealant. Your dentist examines each tooth carefully, and may use X-rays, before deciding. To learn how cavities start and how to spot early warning signs at home, read our guide to cavities in children.

When to consider sealants for your child

The best time to seal a tooth is soon after it has fully come in, before decay has a chance to start. For most children, that means two windows:

• Around age 6, when the first permanent molars erupt behind the baby teeth. Because nothing falls out to make room for them, many parents don't notice these new adult teeth arriving.
• Around age 12, when the second permanent molars come in, often at a time when teens are snacking more and brushing less carefully.

Your dentist may also suggest sealing premolars or baby molars with especially deep grooves, particularly for children who have already had a cavity. Kids who wear braces later, have a sweet tooth, or drink juice or sports drinks often are also more likely to benefit.

How sealants are checked over time

Once placed, sealants are examined at every six-month visit. Chewing gradually wears them down, and a small chip can let food and bacteria creep in at the edge. Catching that early means a quick, painless touch-up rather than a cavity. This is one reason routine checkups matter even for children whose teeth look perfectly healthy at home.

If you're unsure whether your child's molars have come in yet, run a clean finger along the back of their gums or simply ask at the next visit. We'll show you which teeth are new and whether they're ready to be sealed.

Questions to ask your child's dentist

A good pediatric dental team welcomes questions. Here are a few worth asking:

1. Which of my child's teeth would benefit from sealants, and why?
2. Which sealant material do you use, and is a glass ionomer option available?
3. Will my child rinse after placement?
4. How will you check the sealants over time, and what happens if one chips?
5. Does my insurance cover sealants on these specific teeth?

Sealants work best as part of a complete prevention routine that includes daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste. For the right amount of toothpaste by age, see our guide to fluoride and toothpaste for kids.

Frequently asked questions