Published September 2026

1 of 5The chewing surface of a back tooth has deep grooves that trap food
  1. The chewing surface of a back tooth has deep grooves that trap food
  2. The tooth is cleaned and dried. Nothing is drilled and no numbing is needed
  3. A liquid sealant is brushed into the grooves
  4. A blue light sets it hard in seconds
  5. The grooves are sealed smooth and easier to keep clean

Who usually does it

hygienist. Done in general and pediatric offices, mostly on children's molars.

One question worth asking

Which teeth are being sealed today, and how long do these usually last?

Small preventive filling with sealant

Cleanings and gum carePreventiveFor childrenD1352

D1352. A tiny filling in a groove that has started to decay, finished with a sealant over the top.

A sealant is a thin protective coating brushed into the grooves of a back tooth so food and bacteria cannot settle there. It is painless and takes a few minutes per tooth. Related codes cover repairing a sealant and a very small filling done with a sealant.

The tooth is cleaned and dried, the coating is flowed into the deep grooves on the chewing surface, and a light hardens it. Nothing is drilled and no numbing is used. Sealants are counted per tooth, and separate codes cover repairing one that has chipped and a very small filling placed with sealant material. Most plans file this as Preventive. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Small preventive filling with sealant (D1352): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar