Fissure Sealants in Two Rocks: What They Are & Are They Worth It?

If your dentist has ever mentioned fissure sealants for your child, or for your own back teeth, you've probably wondered what they actually involve. Are they just for kids? Do they really stop cavities? At Two Rocks Dental Care, we get asked about fissure sealants often, especially from parents bringing their children in for their first proper dental visits. This guide walks through what fissure sealants are, which teeth usually get them, how they're applied, and how to think about whether they're worth it for your family.

What are fissure sealants?

A fissure is just the natural groove on the chewing surface of a back tooth. A fissure is a natural groove on the biting/chewing surface of a back tooth, and these fissures can be deep and narrow. That makes them tricky to clean properly, even with good brushing.

Fissure sealants are thin coatings that are like tooth filling material. Sometimes the sealant contains fluoride. Sealants can look white or clear. Once in place, they reduce how much food and bacteria sticks to the fissures in your teeth, which can help to stop tooth decay.

It's worth being upfront about what sealants can and can't do. They lower the risk of decay starting in those deep grooves, but they don't make a tooth immune to cavities altogether. Good brushing, a sensible diet and regular check-ups still matter just as much.

Which teeth get fissure sealants?

Fissure sealants are most commonly put on top of your molars, the big chewing teeth at the back of your mouth. These teeth have the deepest, most awkward grooves, which is exactly where decay likes to start.

Not every tooth needs one. Not all children need fissure sealants, but some people have deep grooves or pits on their teeth that put them at higher risk. During a check-up, our team looks at the shape of each tooth and talks you through which ones would genuinely benefit from a sealant, rather than sealing everything as a matter of routine.

Fissure sealants for kids

This is where sealants are used most often. This procedure is most often done in children aged 6 years or older and teenagers. Usually, sealants are put on just after the teeth have appeared in their mouth. That timing matters, because a newly erupted molar hasn't had the chance to develop decay yet, so sealing it early gives it a head start.

For families in Two Rocks, Yanchep and along Perth's northern coast, this is often part of a child's first few dental visits, alongside a general check and a chat about brushing habits. You can read more about how we look after younger patients on our kids' dental page.

Fissure sealants for adults

Sealants aren't only for children. Adults can have sealants placed too, particularly on molars with deep grooves that have stayed free of decay, or where cleaning has always been difficult. It's less common than in children, simply because adult molars have usually already been through years of wear, filling work or decay by the time sealants come up as an option. But if you have a tooth that's holding up well and just has an awkward, deep fissure, it's a reasonable thing to ask your dentist about at your next visit.

How are fissure sealants applied?

The process is simple and doesn't involve any drilling. The process of applying a fissure sealant does not normally require any drilling or removal of any parts of your tooth. After the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, a gel is applied for the necessary time, usually a few seconds, which prepares the surface of the tooth. The tooth is then washed, dried and inspected.

From there, the sealant is placed on the surface of the tooth and it flows into the pits and fissures of the tooth, where the liquid is then left to set or hardened with a light. Your bite is checked afterwards to make sure everything feels comfortable and even. The whole thing is usually done in one sitting, and most people find it a quick, straightforward part of a check-up rather than a separate ordeal.

We take the same unhurried approach with sealants as we do with every treatment at Two Rocks Dental Care. We'll show you which teeth we think would benefit, explain why, and answer any questions before we go ahead. You can find more detail on our fissure sealants page.

Are fissure sealants worth it?

This is the question most parents actually want answered. There's no single right call for every tooth or every child, but a few things are worth weighing up.

What sealants do well

• They cover deep grooves that are genuinely hard to clean with a toothbrush alone.
• They're quick to place, with no drilling and minimal fuss.
• They can be checked and topped up at your regular check-ups if they wear down.

What sealants don't do

• They don't protect the sides of teeth or the spaces between them, where decay can still start.
• They wear over time with normal chewing, so chewing can wear down the sealant over time, and sometimes a sealant needs to be replaced.
• They're not a substitute for brushing, flossing and a reasonable diet.

For a child with deep, tricky grooves in their new adult molars, a sealant is often a sensible, low-fuss bit of prevention. For a tooth with shallow, easy-to-clean grooves, it might not add much. That's exactly the sort of judgement call we talk through with you at a check-up, rather than applying sealants automatically. Your dental professional will check the fissure sealant when you have your regular dental check-up, so it becomes part of your normal routine rather than an extra thing to remember.

Looking after sealants once they're in

There's nothing special you need to do differently day to day. Keep brushing twice a day, floss where you can reach, and try to go easy on sugary snacks and drinks, which drive decay everywhere in the mouth, sealed teeth included.

At your regular hygiene visit, sometimes called a scale and clean, our team checks sealants along with everything else. If one has worn thin or chipped, it can usually be topped up without any drama. If you ever notice a rough edge, a bit of food always catching in one spot, or any sensitivity, it's worth mentioning at your next visit rather than waiting it out.

Frequently asked questions

Do fissure sealants hurt?

No drilling or needles are involved, and the process mainly involves cleaning, drying and painting the sealant onto the tooth. Most children and adults find it a comfortable, straightforward part of a visit.

How long do fissure sealants last?

They vary from person to person depending on how you bite and chew, and how well they're looked after. They are not permanent, and our team checks them at your regular visits to see if a top-up is needed.

Can baby teeth get fissure sealants too?

Sealants are usually placed on the biting surface of adult back teeth, but they can also be placed on other adult teeth or baby teeth. Your dental professional will decide which teeth need to be sealed. This depends on how a child's teeth look and their overall risk of decay.

Will my health fund cover fissure sealants?

Cover depends on your policy and your fund's rules around extras. We're a preferred provider for HBF, HCF and nib, which usually means a smaller gap for eligible treatment, though it's never free. We can give you a written quote with item numbers so you can check your benefit with your fund before you go ahead.

Are fissure sealants only for children?

No. They're most commonly used in children and teenagers when adult molars first come through, but adults with deep grooves and healthy teeth can have them placed too if it makes sense for that particular tooth.

Booking a check for fissure sealants in Two Rocks

Whether you're after fissure sealants for your child's new molars, want to know if a sealant suits one of your own teeth, or just need a general check-up, there's no need to drive down to Joondalup. Two Rocks Dental Care is right here on Perth's northern coast, serving families from Two Rocks, Yanchep, Carabooda, Lancelin and the surrounding areas.

If you're new to the practice, our new patients page has everything you need to get started, including how we handle your first visit and what to bring along. From there, you can choose a time online or give us a call.

To book an appointment with Two Rocks Dental Care, call us on (08) 9502 9040 or book an appointment online at a time that suits you. We're always happy to talk you through whether fissure sealants are the right fit for your family's teeth.