A tooth sealant is a resin material that is usually applied to the fissures and pits of the back teeth. The resin acts as a barrier, protecting the enamel from bacterial plaque in cavity prone areas.

Sealants are easy and painless for the dentist to apply. It only takes a few minutes to seal each tooth.

Children are much more susceptible to tooth decay than adults. When possible, sealants should be applied to children's teeth before decay has had a chance to begin.

The National Institute of Health reported that pit and fissure cavities accounted for at least 88 percent of the total cavities experienced by U.S. school children between 1986 and 1987.

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