A dental sealant is a hard resin that is used to fill in small grooves and fissures that naturally occur on your teeth. These grooves and fissures can be difficult to clean which makes them optimal areas for bacteria to gather and create tooth decay. Sealing these areas creates a smoother surface that will not trap food and bacteria as easily and it is also easier to clean. Sealants are placed on the surface of the tooth called the occlusal surface or in other words, the chewing surface of the tooth.