Cavity Prevention
How Do Dental Sealants Protect
Your Child's Teeth From Cavities
in Calgary?
The deep grooves and pits on the chewing surfaces of back teeth are notorious cavity traps — too narrow for toothbrush bristles to clean effectively. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that flow into these grooves and harden to create a smooth, sealed surface that bacteria and food debris cannot penetrate. Applied in minutes without any drilling or anaesthesia, sealants are one of the most effective preventive treatments available for children — reducing cavity risk by up to 80% in treated teeth.
Why Sealants Work
What Happens During the
Dental Sealant Procedure at Royal Oak Smiles?
Tooth Preparation
The tooth surface is cleaned, dried, and conditioned with a mild etching solution to help the sealant material bond firmly to the enamel.
Sealant Application
The liquid sealant material is carefully painted into the grooves and pits of the chewing surface, ensuring complete coverage of all cavity-prone areas.
Curing & Hardening
A curing light hardens the sealant in seconds, creating a tough, durable barrier that integrates with the tooth surface.
Ongoing Monitoring
Sealants are checked at every routine visit and can be reapplied if they show wear — providing continued protection through the cavity-prone childhood years.
CDCP and NIHB provider. Accepting new patients. Open 7 days a week. Call to book →
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
About Dental Sealants in Calgary
Dental sealants are most effective when applied shortly after the permanent back teeth erupt — typically around ages 6 to 7 for the first molars and ages 11 to 13 for the second molars. Royal Oak Smiles recommends sealants as soon as each molar has fully erupted and can be kept dry for application. Some children benefit from sealants on primary (baby) molars as well, particularly those at higher cavity risk.
Dental sealants are completely painless and require no drilling, needles, or anaesthesia. The procedure involves cleaning and drying the tooth, applying a mild etching solution, painting on the liquid sealant, and hardening it with a curing light — all completed in minutes per tooth. Most children find it no more involved than a routine cleaning. The entire procedure for four molars takes approximately 30 minutes.
Dental sealants at Royal Oak Smiles typically last 5 to 10 years. They are checked at every routine visit and can be touched up or reapplied if wear or chipping is detected. The protection they provide during the cavity-prone years of childhood — when brushing technique is still developing — makes them one of the most cost-effective preventive investments in pediatric dentistry.
Yes, dental sealants for children are typically covered under CDCP (Canadian Dental Care Plan) and NIHB (Non-Insured Health Benefits) for eligible patients. Most Alberta dental insurance plans also include sealant coverage for children up to a certain age. Royal Oak Smiles is a CDCP participating clinic and NIHB provider with direct billing. Call (403) 374-6161 to confirm your child's specific entitlement.