Dental caries: Do teeth sealants prevent tooth decay in children and young people?

The application of sealants to the molars or back teeth can result in a major reduction in the risk of tooth decay or cavities.

Back teeth with deep dents or grooves are particularly at risk of developing cavities. Bacteria that cause tooth decay can lodge inside these dents or grooves (fissures).

Dentists can apply fissure sealants. This is an artificial material, usually made of resin (plastic), that covers the fissures. Getting sealants is a painless procedure. You can read more about it in our Fact Sheet.

To assess the possible benefits of fissure sealants, researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration systematically reviewed the results of trials. The researchers found eight trials that tested modern forms of teeth sealants. The trials included children between five and 13 years of age. In this age group, children usually already have eight or 12 permanent molars.

The researchers in the trials tested for protection from caries usually by applying teeth sealants to the molars of one side of the child's mouth, but not the other.

These tests delivered clear results of benefit from fissure sealants. After four to five years half as many teeth on the sealed side of the children's mouths had cavities.

One of the keys to getting the most protection against tooth decay is that the sealants need to last as long as possible. The sealants were typically still in place after four years in more than half of the children and young people.

The trials did not provide information about adverse effects. The resins usually used today are not known to cause harm, although some people have had allergic reactions to them.

© IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care)