Can sealants be placed on teeth with incipient caries?

• A. Yes, it is a primary prevention
• B. No, sealants should not be placed on caries
• C. Only after caries removal
• D. Sealants are not recommended in any case

Answer: (A)

Sealing pits and fissures is a preventive measure because it blocks the pathway for cariogenic plaque to reach susceptible enamel. When a caries lesion is incipient—noncavitated and confined to the enamel within a pit or fissure—the sealant provides a physical barrier that isolates the lesion from sugars and bacteria, reducing acid production and allowing the lesion to arrest or slow its progression. In this scenario, placing a sealant serves to prevent disease rather than treat a large open cavity, so it is considered primary prevention. If the lesion were active and cavitated or extended into dentin, sealing alone would not be appropriate without caries removal or other treatment.