Fissure Sealants

Simple, protective care for the teeth most prone to decay.

Fissure Sealants at St Ives Smiles Dentistry

The back teeth have deep grooves that are hard to keep clean, and decay often starts there. A fissure sealant covers those grooves to lower that risk. It’s a routine part of preventive care for children and teenagers, though some adults with particularly deep grooves benefit from one too.

At St Ives Smiles Dentistry, we look at your teeth (or your child’s) before recommending sealants, since not every tooth needs one. Placing a sealant doesn’t involve drilling or anaesthetic.

At a glance

What it does: Lowers the risk of decay in the grooves of a back tooth
Who it suits: Most often children and teenagers, though adults can have them too
Cost: Starts from $74
How long they last: No fixed lifespan. Checked, and replaced if needed, at your regular check-up

What Is a Fissure Sealant and What Does It Do?

A fissure sealant is a thin layer of filling material painted over the fissures, the natural grooves and pits on the biting surface of a back tooth, to stop food and bacteria collecting there. This lowers the risk of decay developing in those grooves; it doesn't remove the risk of decay everywhere else in the mouth. The material is usually white or clear, and sometimes contains fluoride.

A sealant is an addition to your normal oral hygiene, not a substitute for it. You still clean your teeth as usual once one is in place, and your dentist checks it along with the rest of your mouth at your regular check-up.

Which Teeth Get Fissure Sealants?

Fissure sealants are most commonly placed in the grooves of the back adult molar teeth, though sometimes other teeth need them too. The deciding factor is the tooth, not a fixed rule: teeth with deep grooves or pits are the ones a dentist is likely to recommend sealing.

Not every tooth needs one, and not every child needs sealants at all. Your dentist will let you know if sealing is recommended for a particular tooth, based on an individual look at your mouth rather than a blanket approach.

Are Fissure Sealants Only for Children?

No. Fissure sealants are most often placed in children and teenagers, usually soon after their back adult teeth come through, but they aren't only for children. If an adult has deep grooves or pits prone to trapping food and bacteria, a dentist can recommend sealing those teeth too.

Where the two groups genuinely differ is funding, not clinical suitability:

Fissure sealants: children compared with adults
	Children	Adults
Who it suits	Most often placed soon after back adult teeth come through	Recommended case by case, based on the shape of your molars
CDBS funding	May be covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, subject to item and time restrictions	Not CDBS-eligible
Price at St Ives Smiles	Same starting price either way (see cost FAQ below)	Same starting price either way (see cost FAQ below)

If you're weighing this up for your own children, our children's dentistry page covers the broader picture of routine paediatric care.

What Happens When You Get a Fissure Sealant?

Getting a fissure sealant doesn't need an injection or any drilling of the tooth. The dentist cleans and dries the tooth surface, then paints the sealant material into the grooves, where it sets in place.

Afterwards, you clean your teeth exactly as you did before. The sealant simply sits over the grooves it was placed on; it doesn't change how you brush or floss anywhere else in your mouth.

How Long Do Fissure Sealants Last?

There's no fixed lifespan for a fissure sealant. Chewing gradually wears the material down over time, and sometimes a sealant needs replacing.

Rather than being on a schedule, replacement is picked up at your regular dental check-up, where your dentist checks the sealant along with the rest of your teeth. Nothing about a sealant needs monitoring outside your normal check-up routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a fissure sealant cost?

A fissure sealant at St Ives Smiles starts from $74, whether it's for a child or an adult.

Are fissure sealants covered by CDBS?

Fissure sealing is one of the services covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible children, along with check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fillings, root canals and extractions, subject to item and time restrictions. CDBS doesn't cover orthodontic or cosmetic treatment, or hospital-based dental care. CDBS eligibility and coverage are set by Services Australia and can change, so it's worth confirming your child's current eligibility when you book.

Do fissure sealants mean I can brush less?

No. A sealant only covers the grooves it was placed on, so normal brushing and flossing still matter everywhere else in your mouth, and over the sealed tooth too.

Are there any risks with fissure sealants?

Having a fissure sealant placed is quick and non-invasive, and it doesn't need any anaesthetic. There are no common risks linked to the procedure, according to Healthdirect. Your dentist will still check the tooth is suitable and talk through anything specific to your child beforehand.

Book a Consultation

If you're wondering whether a fissure sealant suits you or your child, that's a question for an individual look at the teeth involved, not a general rule. Fissure sealants sit alongside the rest of our general dentistry care at St Ives Smiles.

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