A pit and fissure sealant appointment needs more than the sealant: you also need etchant, delivery tips, a way to clean the enamel, isolation and a curing light. EBIKO Dental stocks two sealants that take different approaches to moisture: 3M Clinpro Sealant, applied to an etched and dried surface, and Pulpdent Embrace WetBond, which Pulpdent says bonds to a slightly moist tooth. This guide matches each step of the manufacturers' instructions to the supplies it calls for.
Both manufacturers' instructions put most of their weight on what happens before and after the sealant goes on: 3M directs re-etching if saliva touches etched enamel, and warns that a Clinpro sealant showing any pink is not completely cured. As of October 2026, here is how dental supplies in Canada line up against the two sealant systems on the EBIKO Dental shelf, with prices in CAD for practices in Toronto, the GTA and across Ontario.
Where Sealants Fit in Canadian Practice
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) position on pit and fissure sealants (revised February 2018) supports the appropriate and selective use of sealants on both primary and permanent teeth, based on caries risk assessment and diagnosis by a dentist. The CDA describes sealants as one component of a comprehensive preventive program that also includes nutritional counselling, optimal fluoride exposure, good oral hygiene and regular dental examinations.
That framing matters for supply planning. Selective, risk-based use means sealant volume follows your patient mix rather than a fixed quota, so it pays to stock a sealant format that fits how many teeth you seal in a typical month.
Two Sealant Approaches: Dry-Field Resin vs Moisture-Tolerant
3M Clinpro Sealant: etch, dry, and watch the colour
3M's technical product profile describes Clinpro Sealant as a light-cure, fluoride-releasing pit and fissure sealant. It is pink when applied and changes to an opaque off-white when exposed to light. 3M lists two methacrylate monomers, 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl]propane (Bis-GMA) and tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and describes the material as unfilled so it flows into pits and fissures, and self-occluding, needing little or no adjustment after curing.
The colour change comes with an important caveat in 3M's own words: the change from pink to off-white is not a cure indicator. The sealant must be cured with a dental curing light for the recommended exposure time, and 3M states that a sealant showing any pink colouring is not completely cured. 3M also notes the material is light sensitive, so overhead operatory lights will start the colour change and curing.
Pro Tip: Treat Clinpro's pink-to-white shift as a placement aid only. Time your cure by the curing light and 3M's light curing guide; 3M states that any remaining pink means the sealant is not completely cured.
EBIKO Dental carries 3M Clinpro Sealant, 1.2 mL syringe with 10 tips, at $39.99 CAD. 3M's profile states the syringe format comes with 27-gauge blunt needle tips for direct delivery to the tooth.
Pulpdent Embrace WetBond: etch, then leave it slightly moist
Pulpdent describes Embrace WetBond as a fluoride-releasing, light-cure, wet-bonding sealant that contains no bisphenol A, no Bis-GMA and no BPA derivatives. Pulpdent calls it the first pit and fissure sealant that bonds to the moist tooth, and states that Embrace is activated by moisture: it will seal a dry tooth but works better in the presence of moisture. Pulpdent also says Embrace releases and recharges phosphate and fluoride, and that no bonding agent is necessary.
Moisture-tolerant does not mean etch-free. Pulpdent's answer to "Do I etch before placing Embrace?" is simply "Always etch enamel." Its clinical procedure calls for Etch-Rite for 20 seconds, then rinsing and lightly drying so the surface is left slightly moist: shiny or glossy, with no drops or pooling of water. If you over-dry, Pulpdent suggests applying a moist cotton pellet to the tooth.
EBIKO Dental stocks Pulpdent Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant in Natural and Off-White. The kit (4 × 1.2 mL syringes plus 20 tips) is $159.99 CAD in either shade; the 3 mL syringe refill is $73.99 CAD in Natural and $81.99 CAD in Off-White. Pulpdent states that a 1.2 mL syringe seals 20 to 30 teeth and a 3 mL syringe seals 50 to 75 teeth.
Step by Step: Matching Supplies to the Instructions
The sequence below follows 3M's published application technique for Clinpro, with Pulpdent's Embrace differences noted. Always work from the current instructions for use packaged with the product you are placing.
1. Select and clean the teeth
3M specifies that teeth must be sufficiently erupted that a dry field can be maintained, and that enamel surfaces and fissures be thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque and debris, then rinsed. It adds a specific warning: do not use any cleaning medium that may contain oils.
EBIKO Dental's prophy brushes come in latch and screw-on attachments, in flat and tapered styles, at $26.99 CAD per box (100 brushes, or 144 for the two tapered styles).
Pro Tip: Check the label of any paste you use to clean teeth before sealing. 3M's instruction rules out cleaning media that may contain oils, so confirm the cleaning medium in your sealant setup is oil-free rather than assuming whatever is on the hygiene cart qualifies.
2. Isolate
3M states that a rubber dam provides the best isolation, and that cotton rolls used together with isolation shields are acceptable. For cotton-roll isolation, EBIKO Dental carries #2 cotton rolls, 2,000 per pack, at $18.99 CAD, and EBIKO Dry Angle saliva absorbents in small and large sizes, with original or reflective backing, at $20.00 CAD per box of 50.
3. Etch
For Clinpro, 3M directs a generous application of etchant to all enamel surfaces to be sealed, extending beyond the anticipated margin of the sealant, for a minimum of 15 seconds and no longer than 60 seconds. As an alternative to acid etching, 3M allows Adper Prompt Self-Etch Adhesive or Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, following those products' own sealant-bonding instructions; the enamel must still be thoroughly cleaned and isolated. For Embrace, Pulpdent's procedure specifies Etch-Rite for 20 seconds.
Etchant options at EBIKO Dental:
- Pulpdent Etch-Rite dental etch gel kit: four 1.2 mL syringes of 38% phosphoric acid gel with 8 tips, $29.99 CAD. This is the etchant named in Pulpdent's Embrace procedure.
- Pulpdent Etch-Rite ET-24: 24 × 1.2 mL syringes, $119.99 CAD, for practices that prefer multiple small syringes.
- Ultradent Ultra-Etch 35% phosphoric acid etchant: from $169.99 CAD for the IndiSpense bulk refill.
- Blue 25-gauge etch tips: 100 per pack, $7.99 CAD.
- 3M Adper Prompt L-Pop Self-Etch Adhesive: 100 per box, $326.99 CAD, for the self-etch alternative 3M describes for Clinpro.
4. Rinse, then dry (or don't)
This is where the two systems part ways. For Clinpro, 3M calls for a thorough rinse with air-water spray, and warns not to let the patient swallow or rinse; if saliva contacts the etched surface, re-etch for 5 seconds and rinse. The surface is then thoroughly dried with oil- and water-free air until it looks matte and frosty white.
For Embrace, Pulpdent says to rinse and lightly dry, leaving the tooth slightly moist, shiny or glossy with no drops or pooling of water.
5. Place the sealant
3M directs that Clinpro be applied into the pits and fissures with the syringe tip or a brush, without letting it flow beyond the etched surface. Stirring with the syringe tip during or after placement helps eliminate possible bubbles and improves flow into the fissures; an explorer may also be used.
6. Light-cure
3M instructs holding the curing light tip as close as possible to the sealant without touching it, for the curing time in its guide. Pulpdent gives a 20-second cure for Embrace with a standard halogen light and notes that more powerful lights cure faster.
EBIKO Dental carries the Eighteeth CuringPen-E LED curing light at $159.99 CAD and curing light sleeves in three styles, from $25.99 CAD per 500. Whatever light you use, confirm its output meets the sealant manufacturer's requirements before you rely on a cure time.
7. Wipe and check
For Clinpro, 3M's final step is to wipe the sealant with a cotton applicator to remove the thin film on the surface. Pulpdent reports that in its own clinical study of 334 teeth followed for four to six years, 10% of Embrace sealants required repair or replacement, which is a reminder that retention checks belong on every recall.
How to Choose Between the Two
- If your team can reliably hold a dry field with a rubber dam or cotton rolls and shields, Clinpro's etch-and-dry technique and pink placement aid fit a conventional workflow.
- If keeping a perfectly dry field is the hard part, Embrace is designed around a slightly moist surface, according to Pulpdent, though it still requires etching.
- If patients or parents ask about BPA or Bis-GMA, Pulpdent states Embrace contains neither, while 3M lists 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl]propane, commonly called Bis-GMA, as a Clinpro monomer. Give patients the manufacturers' own composition statements rather than a summary.
- If volume drives the decision, compare cost per tooth using Pulpdent's stated yields for Embrace (20 to 30 teeth per 1.2 mL syringe) and 3M's estimate of approximately 70 applications per Clinpro syringe, which 3M notes varies among patients.
Pro Tip: Build one labelled sealant tray per operatory with sealant, etchant and tips, cotton rolls or dry angles, a prophy brush and a curing light sleeve. A complete tray keeps the etched surface from waiting while someone looks for a missing item.
Ordering Sealant Supplies in Canada
EBIKO Dental ships across Canada, with free shipping on orders of $99+ CAD in the GTA, $199+ CAD in Ontario and $299+ CAD Canada-wide. The Embrace WetBond kit alone ($159.99 CAD) is above the GTA threshold. Shop prevention and restorative supplies at EBIKO Dental.
Which sealant does your hygiene team prefer, and what made the difference: isolation, handling or patient questions? Share your experience with other Canadian practices.
Sources
- Canadian Dental Association. CDA Position on Pit and Fissure Sealants (revised February 2018).
- 3M. 3M Clinpro Sealant Technical Product Profile.
- Pulpdent. Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the colour change on Clinpro Sealant mean it is fully cured?
No. 3M states that the change from pink to opaque off-white is not a cure indicator, and that a sealant showing any pink colouring is not completely cured. Cure it with a dental curing light for the recommended exposure time.
Q: Do you need to etch before placing a moisture-tolerant sealant like Embrace?
Yes. Pulpdent's guidance for Embrace WetBond is to always etch enamel, applying Etch-Rite for 20 seconds, then rinsing and lightly drying so the tooth stays slightly moist and glossy without pooled water.
Q: What supplies do I need for a pit and fissure sealant appointment?
Based on 3M's and Pulpdent's instructions, you need an oil-free way to clean the enamel, isolation (rubber dam, or cotton rolls with isolation shields), an etchant with delivery tips (or, for Clinpro, a self-etch adhesive 3M allows instead), the sealant, and a dental curing light. EBIKO Dental stocks cotton rolls, dry angles, etchants and tips, both sealants and a curing light for Canadian practices.