Fissure Sealants for Children in Sandgate

A fissure sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured resin painted into the deep grooves of your child’s back teeth. It helps stop plaque settling in the grooves and makes the tooth easier to clean. No drilling or numbing is needed.

If you would like us to take a look at your child’s teeth and discuss whether sealants are appropriate, you can book online.

• 12 Lagoon St, Sandgate QLD 4017
• Open Saturday mornings, 8:00AM to 12:00PM
• CDBS for eligible children

Fissure sealants at a glance

Usual timing

First adult molars around age 6 to 8. Premolars around 10 to 12. Second adult molars around 12 to 14.

Which teeth

Back teeth that have just come through fully, with deep grooves and no decay or fillings on the biting surface. We check groove depth and decay risk first. Not every back tooth needs one.

How long they last

Often several years. They can wear, chip or come away, so we check them at each check-up.

Still brush and floss

Sealants only protect the grooves on the biting surface. Brushing twice a day and flossing where teeth touch are still needed.

CDBS

Sealants are a covered item under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. It covers eligible children aged 0-17 with benefits remaining, up to $1,158 over two years.

Where and when

12 Lagoon St, Sandgate QLD 4017 · (07) 3269 6252
Mon–Thurs 8:30AM–5:00PM · Fri 8:30AM–4:00PM · Sat 8:00AM–12:00PM

On this page

1. What fissure sealants actually are
2. Why parents consider sealants
3. When sealants are usually placed
4. How a sealant is placed
5. How long sealants last
6. Sealants are not a substitute for brushing
7. How this page relates to our preventive sealant page
8. CDBS and payment
9. Who sealants may suit
10. Fissure sealant FAQs
11. Related information
12. Ask us about sealants at your child’s next check-up

How a sealant is placed

1. The tooth is cleaned and dried. There’s no drilling and no anaesthetic needed.
2. A mild gel is put on the biting surface for a few seconds, then rinsed off.
3. The dentist paints sealant into the grooves and hardens it with a small blue light.
4. We check the bite and adjust if needed. Your child can eat and drink straight away.

What fissure sealants actually are

Permanent molars and premolars come through with deep grooves on their biting surface. Those grooves — called fissures — can be narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, which means even careful brushing struggles to reach inside them. Plaque and food get trapped, and decay starts in places that are hard to spot.

A fissure sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured resin that flows into those grooves and is hardened with a small blue light. It seals the surface so plaque cannot settle in, and so the tooth is easier to clean.

Why parents consider sealants

• The first adult back teeth come through around age 6 — well before most children are good at brushing those areas thoroughly
• Decay in a brand-new adult molar is disappointing when prevention is straightforward
• The process is quick, painless, and does not require any drilling or numbing
• Sealants reduce the risk of decay on the biting surfaces of treated teeth
• Many children are eligible to have this funded through the CDBS

When sealants are usually placed

Sealants are most useful on teeth that have:

• Just come through fully into the mouth
• Deep, defined grooves
• No existing decay or fillings on the biting surface

Typical timing windows:

• First adult molars (six-year-old molars) — usually sealed between age 6 and 8
• Premolars — usually sealed between age 10 and 12
• Second adult molars (twelve-year-old molars) — usually sealed between age 12 and 14

We assess the depth of the grooves and your child’s decay risk before recommending sealants. Not every back tooth needs them — shallow grooves and very clean mouths often do well without.

How a sealant is placed

The visit is short and your child stays awake and comfortable throughout.

How long sealants last

Most sealants stay intact for several years. They can wear, chip, or come away over time — particularly in children who clench or grind, or chew hard objects. We check sealants at each routine check-up and top them up or replace them if needed.

Sealants are not a substitute for brushing

This part matters: sealants protect the grooves on the biting surface of back teeth. They do not protect the sides of teeth, the gum line, or the surfaces between teeth. Daily brushing twice a day, daily flossing where teeth touch, and good drink choices still do the heavy lifting in keeping decay away.

How this page relates to our preventive sealant page

If you would like a more general clinical description of sealants — including indications, materials, and adult applications — see our preventive dentistry fissure sealants page. The page you are reading now is written for parents specifically, with a focus on eligibility, timing, and CDBS coverage.

CDBS and payment

Fissure sealants are a covered item under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), which we bulk-bill at Sandgate for eligible children. Most school-aged children whose families receive certain government payments are eligible. See our CDBS bulk-billed children’s dental page for details and how to check eligibility.

We are also HICAPS providers. If your child is not eligible for the CDBS, sealants are usually covered under general dental on most policies; we can claim your eligible rebate at the practice on the day. The amount depends on your policy, level of cover, and annual limits.

Who sealants may suit

• Children whose first adult molars have come through and have deep grooves
• Children with higher decay risk — frequent snacking, dry mouth, less reliable brushing
• Children with a sibling or parent who has had decay in similar teeth
• Children who would find a filling on a back tooth difficult to manage

Who they may not suit: children whose back teeth have not yet erupted enough, teeth that already have decay or large fillings, or children with very shallow grooves and excellent home care. We will tell you honestly which teeth are worth sealing and which are not.

Fissure sealant FAQs

Related information

• Children’s dentistry
• Fissure sealants (preventive)
• Children’s check-up and clean
• Children’s fillings
• Fluoride treatment
• CDBS bulk-billed
• CDBS children’s benefit

Ask us about sealants at your child’s next check-up

Sealants are often discussed at a routine check-up once we have seen your child’s teeth. If you would like us to take a look or have any questions, book online or phone the practice during business hours.

Is your child nervous?

Sealant visits are short, and your child stays awake throughout. There’s no drilling and no anaesthetic. Each tooth takes about one to two minutes. A typical visit takes 10 to 15 minutes for several teeth.

Visiting us

Sandgate Family Dental, 12 Lagoon St, Sandgate QLD 4017 · (07) 3269 6252

Mon–Thurs 8:30AM–5:00PM · Fri 8:30AM–4:00PM · Sat 8:00AM–12:00PM

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