Dental Sealants?

[fluffhead]

At DD1's most recent checkup the dentist reccommended sealing her back molars to prevent cavities. She's 9 YO. He's not our regular dentist, but the partner, and I don't have great faith in him. Still, is this something that's regularly done? It was certainly not the case when I was that age, but then again I got cavities in my molars.

[DCJenn]

I had mine sealed before I left for grad school- aka off the parents insurance plan. It's lasted a LONG time. I think the sealants are supposed to last a decade but mine still have some dregs in the really deep crevices.

J.

[alison]

I had them done around your dd's age, and I have only had one cavity in a molar!

[Thirteen]

I swear by them. I've had them since age 12 (I'm very "groovy" in my molars) and I love it - I think they prevent cavities very well.

[scarlett09]

I had them done in my late teens/early 20s and they lasted several years. I've never had a cavity so they were a preventative measure.

[diggitydot]

I had sealants put on when I was 20 and almost 16 years later am still cavity free. Probably coincidental, but still...

[poky]

I had them done in my late teens/early 20s and they lasted several years. I've never had a cavity so they were a preventative measure.

Ditto here.

[peggyfromwastate]

My kids have been getting sealants put on since the first molars came out. Standard practice out here. They all have sealants-- our dentist of about 2 years is awesome bc he gives them sealants at insurance rates- our insurance only covers 80% of sealants but he doesn't have ppl pay the difference bc he's such a believer in sealants.

None of my kids have had a cavity yet... And they are not awesome at brushing their teeth I'm sad to say. We never floss either bc we really suck as parents and flossing the teeth of all the kids is a pita chore we choose to neglect...

[corn poffi]

I had them done as a kid. Never had any cavities until I was 15. Now I have too many to count.

[ladymoreta]

Add me to the fan list! I had to have a few of the sealants replaced a few year ago (they wear off eventually), but I know they've saved me lots of cavities. DH an I didn't get dental insurance in college, so I went 4 years without a cleaning. Stupid, I know... The only work I had to have done after that was a crown on a molar that had a previous filling that had gotten bad. My dentist would only do sealants on teeth that had no previous cavities, so if that's standard practice, it's best to get them early.

[HouseofWool]

I didn't have sealants as a kid and have a metric assload of cavities. My lil sis did and has very few cavities. DS's school offered it for free to all of the kids as part of the dental hygienist training program at the local tech school. He got all his molars sealed. I figure it is well worth it, even if I had to pay for it. I come from a long line of folks with bad teeth.

[Phoebe]

Big fan! I have many sealants and have never had cavities since. DD, 9th, has two. Our insurance covers sealants 100%. Cavities not 100%. it is a no brainer for me. Dd was super anxious about getting them. They basically just paint it on your tooth and dry it. It goes quick and DD was surprised how easy it was to have done.

[fluffhead]

Thanks all for your input! I guess we're getting sealants!

[SoonerTexan]

I didn't have sealants as a kid and have a metric assload of cavities.

Uhh..yeah! How did I not know this existed?