Were your folks in the military? Everybody of my generation who grew up on military bases overseas had sealants applied when all their permanent teeth came in.

You're thinking of fluoride applications.

No, he's actually thinking of sealants. My sister and I both had it done when we got all our permanent teeth, it was SOP among military dentists in the 80s. The sealants wear off eventually, but it offers some protection for some time.

http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=C&ii...