Skip to main content
Long Wharf Dental Logo
Phone icon
  • Location & hours
  • Pay my bill
  • Patient login
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Emergencies
  • (203) 764-2386
    • Meet our team
    • John J. Gehlbach, DMD
    • Ruey-Chyi Wang, DMD
    • Helen Tran, RDH
    • Prevent
    • Children's Dental Care
    • Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning
    • General Dentistry Services
    • Restore
    • Dental Implant Services
    • Fillings, Crowns & Bridges
    • Full Dentures & Partial Dentures
    • Gum Treatment
    • Implant-Supported Dentures
    • Root Canal & Endodontics
    • Improve
    • Cosmetic Dentistry Services
    • Invisalign®
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Other Services
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Sleep Apnea Treatment
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Dental payment options
    • Dental insurance
    • Dental financing
    • Special offers
    • Medicare Advantage
    • Good faith estimate
    • About our practice
    • Patient information
    • Dental reviews
  • Book appointment

Home

Blog

Discover How Dental Sealants can Protect Children from Cavities

Discover How Dental Sealants can Protect Children from Cavities

June 6, 2016 By Long Wharf Dental Group

Discover How Dental Sealants can Protect Children from Cavities

Don’t let cavities spoil your child’s smile. Treat them to the proven protection of dental sealants.

The Cavity Protection of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are simply very thin layers of resin that are brushed onto a child’s teeth to keep decay away. These tooth sealants are mostly placed on a child’s permanent molars, but a pediatric dentist in New Haven may also want to apply them on other baby or permanent teeth that are susceptible to cavities. Dental sealants cover the deep crevices and narrow crannies in teeth, which is where bacteria and plaque get caught and are hard to reach with a toothbrush. If those particles are not removed from teeth, they can develop into cavities. But covering these areas with tooth sealants can keep decay from forming.

The Appropriate Time for Tooth Sealants

Family dentistry experts agree that children should get dental sealants as soon as their permanent molars emerge, which is typically around age six or seven. They may also need tooth sealants on their second molars, which come in around age 12. Your pediatric dentist in New Haven will probably let you know when your child is ready for dental sealants, but you may want to ask at your child’s next appointment.

The Fast and Easy Application Process

Dental sealants take very little time or effort to apply, with only a few minutes needed to complete the entire process. The following steps are all that’s involved:

  1. A family dentistry specialist cleans and dries the teeth being treated.
  2. A special etching material is brushed onto the teeth and allowed to set for one minute before it is rinsed away.
  3. The teeth are dried and the dental sealant is simply brushed over the teeth.
  4. The dental sealants are set with a strong, special light that activates and hardens the sealant.
  5. One minute later, the sealant has set and the entire procedure is finished, leaving the child protected from cavities.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in New Haven, call Long Wharf Dental Group today at (203) 764-2386 or make an appointment.


Long Wharf Dental Group offers affordable family dentistry and gentle, compassionate dental care in New Haven. With 1 affiliated practices throughout New Haven, our offices are conveniently located with extended hours to meet your needs. At Long Wharf Dental Group, we provide most dental services, from basic preventative care and general dentistry to specialized procedures and complete dental reconstruction. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to provide the exceptional, affordable dental care and personal touch that lead to lasting relationships. A smiling patient is our greatest reward and we look forward to keeping those smiles healthy, beautiful, and bright. Discover an affordable dentist who truly cares at Long Wharf Dental Group.

Recent articles

Comprehensive Care Comprehensive Dental Care in New Haven
Dental Emergency Dental Emergencies in New Haven
Smile Makeovers in New Haven Smile Makeovers in New Haven

Book your appointment today.

1 Long Wharf Drive, Suite #221, New Haven, CT 06511
Call our office at (203) 764-2386.
Book appointment
Long Wharf Dental Logo
  • Children's Dental Care
  • Cosmetic Dentistry Services
  • Dental Exams & Teeth Cleaning
  • Dental Implant Services
  • Emergency Dentist
  • Fillings, Crowns & Bridges
  • Full Dentures & Partial Dentures
  • General Dentistry Services
  • Gum Treatment
  • Implant-Supported Dentures
  • Invisalign®
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Root Canal & Endodontics
  • Sleep Apnea Treatment
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Tooth Extractions
  • Find a dentist near you
  • Privacy policy
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Site map

© 2026 Long Wharf Dental Group. All rights reserved. The above-listed practice complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Notice of non‑discrimination.

(203) 617-0756