Dental Sealants in Lisle, IL
Quick, painless, and remarkably effective, dental sealants shield teeth from cavities. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson at Brammeier Family Dental paint tooth-colored sealants into the deep grooves of back teeth, where over 50% of childhood cavities occur, forming a smooth, protective barrier that keeps food and bacteria out. Among the best preventive tools in dentistry, sealants are especially valuable for children.
What it is
A thin, tooth-colored plastic coating brushed across the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars and premolars). It settles into the deep grooves and hardens into a protective shield against decay.
Who it's for
Mainly children, with sealants placed as soon as permanent molars erupt (around age 6 and again around age 12). Adults who have deep grooves or high cavity risk can benefit too.
How we help
A quick, painless application that calls for no drilling or anesthesia. Our tooth-colored sealants are barely visible and, cared for properly, can protect teeth for many years.
Sealants stop cavities before they begin. Protect your child's permanent teeth as soon as they erupt.
Why Sealants Are So Effective
- The pits and fissures on molar chewing surfaces are behind over 50% of cavities in children
- Those deep grooves are ideal traps for food and bacteria, and toothbrush bristles are usually too wide to clean them
- Enamel in the pits and fissures tends to be thinner and weaker, leaving these spots more vulnerable to decay
- By filling those grooves, sealants leave a smooth, sealed surface that's easy to clean and resistant to bacteria
- A sealant can no longer go on once decay has set in, which is why early application is so important
How Sealants Are Applied
- Clean: Each tooth is thoroughly cleaned to clear away plaque and food particles
- Isolate: The teeth are dried and kept isolated so no moisture interferes
- Etch: A mild solution roughens the surface so the sealant bonds firmly
- Rinse and dry: A second rinse and dry follow
- Apply: Liquid sealant is brushed into the grooves with a tiny applicator, flowing deep into every pit and fissure
- Harden: A special curing light sets the sealant, and the whole process runs just minutes per tooth
Timing and Care
When Should Sealants Be Applied?
- First permanent molars (age ~6): Erupting behind the baby teeth and especially vulnerable, these should be sealed as soon as they come in
- Second permanent molars (age ~12): A second key window for sealant protection
- Premolars: Sometimes worth sealing as well, depending on how deep their grooves run
- Baby teeth: Sealed now and then when they have deep grooves and the child is at high risk for cavities
- Before recommending a sealant, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson examine each tooth closely, since timing is key to maximum protection
How Long Do Sealants Last?
- With proper care, sealants can guard teeth for many years
- At every regular visit, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson inspect the sealants and can reapply them if they wear down or chip
- Steer clear of hard foods like ice and hard candy that can crack sealants
- Stay away from sticky foods like taffy, caramel, and gummy candy that can pull sealants off
- Sealants cover the chewing surface, yet brushing and flossing remain essential for the areas between teeth and along the gum line
Teeth are best sealed before cavities ever start. Ask about sealants at your child's next visit.
What to Expect
At Your Visit
- Placing a sealant is completely painless, with no drilling, no shots, and no anesthesia
- Each tooth takes only a few minutes
- It often reassures children to hear that the sealant is simply 'painted' on to protect their teeth
- In many cases, sealants go on during a regular cleaning appointment
- Right afterward your child can eat and drink as usual, with no recovery time
Tips to Prevent Cavities
- Brush at least twice a day for two full minutes with fluoride toothpaste
- Avoid sugary and sticky foods, since even wholesome snacks like raisins and dried fruit can cause decay if they linger on teeth
- Trim between-meal snacking to cut acid exposure
- Sip plenty of water to rinse away food and keep saliva flowing
- See Drs. Brammeier and Ericson at least twice a year, because early detection heads off bigger problems
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dental sealants have been used safely for decades and are strongly recommended by both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) as a proven way to prevent cavities in children.
Concerns occasionally come up about BPA, but any BPA exposure from dental sealants is extremely small, far below what you meet from everyday sources like food containers and paper receipts, and it occurs only very briefly right after placement. For the vast majority of patients, the protection a sealant offers against decay far outweighs that minimal exposure, which is why leading dental organizations continue to endorse them.
Yes. While dental sealants are most commonly placed on children's teeth, adults can benefit from them too. If you have deep grooves and pits in your back teeth, a high risk for cavities, or molars that are still healthy and free of fillings, a sealant can shield those vulnerable chewing surfaces just as effectively as it does for a child.
The best candidates are teeth that have not yet been restored, since a sealant works by protecting intact enamel before decay ever starts. At your visit Drs. Brammeier and Ericson can look at your back teeth and let you know whether sealants would add worthwhile protection to your everyday brushing and flossing.
No, and this is an important point. A dental sealant covers only the chewing surface of a back tooth, sealing off the deep grooves where a toothbrush struggles to reach. It does nothing for the areas between your teeth, along the gum line, or on the smooth outer surfaces, and cavities can still form in all of those places.
Think of sealants as one layer of protection working alongside your daily habits, not a replacement for them. Brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing every night, and keeping up with regular checkups all remain essential. Sealants simply guard the one part of the tooth that is hardest to keep clean, giving decay fewer places to take hold.
It is nothing to worry about, and it is easy to fix. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson check the condition of every dental sealant at each regular visit. If one is worn down, chipped, or missing, they first make sure the tooth underneath is still cavity-free, then simply place a fresh sealant. The process is just as quick and painless as the original application.
If you or your child happens to notice that a sealant has come off between visits, whether you feel a rough spot or see that a groove looks different, give our office a call. Depending on timing we may replace it right away or fold it into your next scheduled appointment.
No. A dental sealant is a preventive treatment, which means it has to go on before decay ever starts. Sealing over an existing cavity would only trap the decay underneath, where it could continue to spread out of sight, so it is never done.
Once a tooth already has a cavity, it needs a filling or another restoration to remove the decay and rebuild the tooth instead. This is exactly why timing matters so much with sealants, and why we like to place them on permanent molars soon after they come in, while the enamel is still healthy and fully protectable.
Most dental insurance plans cover dental sealants for children, typically for permanent molars up to somewhere around age 14–18, though the exact age limits and terms vary from plan to plan. Coverage for adult sealants is less common but does exist with some plans.
Our team at our Lisle office will confirm your specific benefits and let you know any cost before we place a sealant, so there are no surprises. Even without insurance, sealants remain very affordable, and they cost far less than filling the cavities they are designed to prevent.
Give your child's teeth the best protection. Book their sealant appointment today.