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Pit & Fissure Sealants in Calgary NE

The chewing surfaces of back teeth are covered in narrow grooves that a toothbrush bristle simply cannot reach. A sealant fills those grooves with a thin protective coating — no drilling, no freezing, and usually done in a few minutes per tooth.

Book a Sealant Appointment Call 403-345-1110
Child receiving preventive dental treatment with protective eyewear at The Port Dental Clinic in Calgary NE

What Is a Dental Sealant?

A dental sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured resin coating painted onto the chewing surface of a back tooth. Molars and premolars are not smooth — they have deep pits and fissures where food and bacteria collect. Those grooves are often narrower than a single toothbrush bristle, which is why the majority of childhood cavities start there rather than on the flat surfaces.

The sealant flows into the grooves and sets hard, turning a rough, food-trapping surface into a smooth one that can actually be brushed clean. It is entirely preventive: nothing is drilled, nothing is removed, and no freezing is needed.

Sealants are most commonly placed on children shortly after the permanent molars come through — around age 6 for the first molars and age 12 for the second. Adults with deep grooves and no decay in those teeth can benefit just as much.

A Small Step That Prevents a Filling

Protects Where Decay Starts — Most cavities in children begin in the grooves of the back teeth. Sealing those grooves removes the place decay is most likely to take hold.

No Drilling, No Freezing — The tooth is cleaned, prepared, and coated. Nothing is removed, so there is no need for an anaesthetic and nothing to recover from.

Quick to Place — A few minutes per tooth. Sealants are often done at the same visit as a checkup and cleaning, so there is no extra appointment.

Makes Brushing Work — A sealed groove is a smooth groove. Your child's brushing becomes far more effective on the teeth that are hardest to clean.

Costs Less Than Treating Decay — Sealing a tooth is considerably less expensive than filling it later, and it keeps the natural tooth structure intact.

Easy to Maintain — We check your sealants at every routine visit and can top one up in minutes if it has chipped or worn.

Placing a Sealant at The Port Dental

The whole appointment is straightforward and comfortable — most children are surprised by how quickly it is over.

1

Check the Tooth

We examine the tooth first. A sealant is only placed where the grooves are sound — if decay has already started, we'll talk through the right treatment instead.

2

Clean & Prepare

The chewing surface is cleaned and dried, then conditioned with a mild gel for a few seconds so the sealant bonds properly. The gel is rinsed away and the tooth is dried again.

3

Apply & Set

The liquid sealant is painted into the grooves and hardened with a curing light. You'll wear protective glasses for this part — it takes seconds per tooth.

4

Check the Bite

We check that the tooth still meets its partner comfortably and adjust if needed. You can eat and drink straight away — there are no restrictions afterwards.

Dentist checking a child's back teeth before placing sealants at The Port Dental Clinic Calgary NE

Sealants — Insurance & CDCP Coverage

Sealants are a preventive service and are covered by most dental plans in Alberta, particularly for children and teens. As a registered CDCP provider, eligible patients may have sealants covered at reduced or no out-of-pocket cost. We offer direct billing, so you pay only your portion.

Cost depends on how many teeth are sealed. We'll confirm exactly which teeth would benefit — and what your plan covers — before anything is placed.

Dental Sealant Questions Answered

The usual timing is shortly after each permanent molar erupts — around age 6 for the first molars and around age 12 for the second. Sealing them early, before decay has a chance to start in the grooves, is what makes them effective. We check for newly erupted molars at every routine visit and will tell you when the timing is right. See our pediatric dentistry page for more on children's care.
Sealants commonly last several years, though they do wear with chewing and can chip. We check them at every routine checkup and can repair or replace one in a few minutes if needed. A sealant that is partially worn is still worth topping up rather than leaving.
No. Nothing is drilled and no tooth structure is removed, so there is no need for freezing. The tooth is cleaned, a conditioning gel is applied briefly and rinsed off, then the coating is painted on and set with a light. Most children find the hardest part is simply keeping the tooth dry while we work.
Yes. Sealants are most often associated with children because that is when permanent molars arrive, but any adult with deep grooves and no existing decay or filling in those teeth can be a candidate. If you are prone to cavities on chewing surfaces, it is worth asking at your next checkup.
No — they protect one specific surface of one group of teeth. Cavities can still form between teeth and along the gumline, so brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleanings remain just as important. Think of a sealant as closing off the single most vulnerable spot, not as a substitute for the rest.
We check the tooth carefully first. Sealing over active decay is not appropriate, so if a cavity has already started we will discuss the right treatment — often a small tooth-coloured filling — instead. The goal is always to catch these teeth before that point.

What Our Patients Say

4.9
(225+ reviews)

“thank you Dr. Sandhu for your patience with my 5 yr old. front tooth had cavities, were brown in color and were rough. now, its hard to spot which one were they. Completely painless ( as described by my son ) happy with our experience. I got my treatment from Dr. Patel. Again, very good experience. Thank you Dr. Patel.”

D
Deepika S.
Google Review

“Great clinic, great staff, and Doctor Balbir Sandhu is amazing! He does a very thorough job of examining and doing fillings, and offers great recommendations and advice. He is also very professional, and makes sure that the customer is satisfied.”

A
Arshnoor K.
Google Review

“The staff at port dental are very efficient and considerate. Dr Sandhu is very professional and kind. He has a very good approach towards children. There is no fear when Dr Sandhu is there.”

I
Inder J.
Google Review
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Protect Those Back Teeth Early

Book a checkup at The Port Dental Clinic in Calgary NE and we'll let you know whether sealants would help — for your child or for you.

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