Ask about fissure sealants when permanent molars erupt
A resin sealant covers grooves on the chewing surface of a molar, helping keep food and bacteria out. Trials found substantially fewer cavities after two years, with benefits still apparent after four years. The exact absolute reduction depends on the child's baseline risk.
What it takes
In China, the source estimates tens to roughly RMB 100–200 per tooth. Placement takes minutes and generally needs neither anesthesia nor drilling. Some local programs provide eligible children with free sealants.
What you may gain
A Cochrane review included 38 trials and 7,924 children aged 5–16. For resin sealant versus no sealant on first permanent molars in children aged 5–10, the 24-month caries OR was 0.12, 95% CI 0.08–0.19, roughly one-eighth the odds. This estimate came from seven trials with 1,548 randomized and 1,322 assessed children, with moderate-quality evidence. The original provides these absolute-risk examples: at a 16% unsealed-surface risk, 5.2% after sealing, range 3.13–7.37%; at 40%, 6.25%, range 3.84–9.63%; and at 70%, 19%, range 12.3–27.2%. At 48–54 months, OR was 0.21, 95% CI 0.16–0.28. The review concluded that resin sealants reduced decay by 11–51 percentage points at 24 months. Four trials reporting adverse effects recorded none. Evidence was insufficient to establish the relative merits of other materials, including glass ionomer.
Context & considerations
First permanent molars usually erupt around age six and second molars around twelve. Ask a dentist about sealing newly erupted suitable teeth before decay develops; existing decay needs its own assessment and treatment. Many localities offer free programs for specified ages, but the source did not obtain a verifiable national document establishing universal ages or coverage. Ask local disease-control or community health services. Dental decay is also a school health-report priority; see entry 7. Numerical issue retained from the original: the 16%-to-5.2% example is not the direct conversion of OR 0.12, so those figures require checking against the review before being treated as a single internally consistent calculation.
Research & references
Ahovuo-Saloranta A et al. (2017). Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001830.pub5