Fluoride & sealants
For children's new back teeth, and for adults who keep getting cavities.
Fluoride varnish hardens the outer layer of a tooth so acid takes longer to get through it. A sealant is a thin coating flowed into the deep grooves of a back tooth, where bristles cannot reach and decay usually starts.
Any of these sound familiar?
- Your child's first adult molars have come through, usually around age six, and again around twelve.
- New cavities keep turning up at check-ups even though nothing has changed at home.
- A medication leaves your mouth dry, so there is less saliva protecting the teeth.
- Gums have receded and the exposed root surface is softer than enamel.
- White, chalky patches have appeared on the enamel, which is decay before a hole forms.
Start to finish.
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01
Whether you need it
Not everyone does. Dr. Malik looks at how many cavities you have had, how deep the grooves are and how dry your mouth is, then tells you plainly if it is worth doing.
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02
Cleaning first
A sealant only goes on a tooth with no decay in the groove, so the tooth is cleaned and checked before anything is applied. If decay has already started underneath, that tooth needs a filling instead.
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03
Sealing the grooves
The tooth is dried, a gel goes on for a few seconds and is rinsed off, then a liquid coating is flowed into the grooves and set with a blue light. No drilling and no needle, and it takes a few minutes per tooth.
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04
Fluoride varnish
The varnish is painted on with a small brush and sets against saliva straight away. It feels slightly sticky for an hour, so keep to soft food and leave the teeth unbrushed until the next morning.
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05
Checked at each visit
Sealants chip and wear over the years, most often where you chew hardest. They are looked at during every check-up and topped up when they need it.
What it costs, and who pays.
Both go on at the end of a check-up, so they rarely need an appointment of their own. Sealants are billed per tooth, and fluoride as a single item. Most plans cover fluoride and sealants for children, often up to a set age, and many cover fluoride for an adult only where there is a record of decay.
Ask for a written estimateFluoride & sealants, answered.
Is fluoride safe for children?
The amount in a varnish is small and it is painted on rather than swallowed. Dr. Malik checks your child's age and what toothpaste they already use before applying it, and it is your decision either way.
How long does a sealant last?
Several years is common and some last a good deal longer. They are checked at every visit, because a chipped sealant can start holding what it was put there to keep out.
Can adults have sealants?
Yes, where the grooves are deep and there is no decay in them yet. It is worth most for people who have had cavities recently, or whose gums have receded and left root surfaces exposed.
Does it hurt, and will my child need freezing?
Neither one involves drilling or a needle. Keeping the tooth dry is the only part a child usually notices, and we stop if they need a break.
