Generally, the procedure for placing a sealant includes thorough and careful cleaning of the surfaces to be sealed. An acid etch solution is then placed on the tooth and rinsed off. This allows for bonding of the sealant to the tooth. The sealant material is then painted on the surfaces and hardened with a special light. The entire procedure is painless and relatively fast.
Most children respond quite well to sealants.
Generally, children are older than 2 years of age when sealants are placed since sealants are usually prepared for permanent teeth. I have placed them on primary teeth when the pits and grooves of the chewing surfaces of the primary teeth are very deep. These deep pits and grooves are more susceptible to caries because it is difficult to keep these areas clean. I have found that the level of cooperation improves when the procedure is explained and materials are shown to the child. Sealing teeth void of decay is optional, but it can be a good preventive technique.