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Sealants are best indicated when there are deep, retentive pits and fissures that are difficult to clean and a patient is at high risk for developing caries. The sealant acts as a physical barrier, filling these narrow grooves to prevent accumulation of plaque and food particles, thereby lowering the chance of decay in areas most prone to it. This preventive approach is especially valuable for newly erupted permanent molars and in patients with elevated caries risk because the protection lasts long and the anatomy of the pits and fissures makes them particularly vulnerable to caries if left unsealed. Sealants are not used for whitening, they don’t repair an enamel fracture, and they’re less indicated when caries risk is low, since the benefit would be smaller.