Children should get sealants on their adult molars as soon as the teeth come in and before cavities form on the teeth. Prevention is always better than the treatment of cavities.
The first adult molars come in when a child is 5 to 7 years old. The second adult molars come in when a child is 11 to 14 years old. Other teeth with pits and grooves may also need to be sealed. Teenagers and young adults could benefit from sealants.
Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. Children ages 6 to 11 years without sealants are almost three times more likely to get cavities than children with sealants.
