Do you get dental sealants for your kids (or yourself), or nah?

We did sealants for my oldest, mostly because his molars had these deep grooves and the dentist made it sound like brushing alone might not get in there. But honestly, I was super nervous about it - like, what if something goes wrong or they pop off? So far, nothing dramatic has happened, but I keep worrying about whether they actually last or if we’ll end up needing to redo them every few years.

I’m curious - has anyone noticed sealants chipping or causing sensitivity? I’ve heard mixed things about how long they’re supposed to hold up, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s just an extra step or really a game changer for cavities.

We did sealants for both my kids, and I totally get the worry - my youngest is a tooth grinder and I was sure the sealants would chip right off. But honestly, they’ve held up better than I expected. Our dentist said they might need touch-ups every few years, but so far, no sensitivity or issues. For us, it’s been worth it - my oldest had a cavity before sealants, none since. I do think it’s a game changer if your kiddo has deep grooves.

That’s really reassuring to hear, especially about the tooth grinding. I’ve been on the fence about sealants for my daughter because she grinds her teeth at night, and I was worried they’d just flake off or wear down in no time. Hearing that yours have held up is honestly a relief. I keep hearing mixed things - some folks say their kids’ sealants chipped fast, others have no problems for years. Maybe it really does depend on the dentist’s technique or the specific materials used.

I get anxious about anything “extra” at the dentist, but knowing your oldest hasn’t had a cavity since getting sealants makes me feel like it’s worth considering, especially since deep grooves run in our family too. The idea of touch-ups every few years doesn’t sound so bad if it means fewer fillings down the road. I’ll probably still overthink it, but your experience helps tip the scales for me. Thanks for sharing - sometimes hearing from real people makes all the difference.

Honestly, I get the hesitation. There’s always that nagging feeling - am I just signing up for another “optional” dental thing, or is this actually going to help? For me, sealants have been a bit of a mixed bag, but overall I lean toward “worth it,” especially for kids with deep grooves (which sounds like your situation too).

My oldest had them put on around age 7 after her dentist pointed out she had those classic deep pits in her molars. She was a pretty diligent brusher, but even then, we’d had a couple close calls with cavities in her baby teeth. Since the sealants? Not a single new cavity in the back teeth. We did have one chip off after about two years - dentist patched it up at a regular cleaning and insurance covered it, so not much hassle.

I get what you mean about the grinding. My youngest is a serious night-grinder and I worried the sealants would just wear away. They do look a little more worn than my older kid’s, but they’re still hanging on after three years, which surprised me. Our dentist did mention that sometimes they need to be touched up or reapplied, especially with grinders or if your kiddo chews ice (guilty here). But honestly, compared to getting fillings later - which are more expensive and can be uncomfortable - I’ll take the occasional touch-up.

As for myself, I skipped them as a kid (wasn’t really offered back then), and now I’m paying for it with way too many fillings and one crown already. Makes me wish I’d had the option.

It’s not totally risk-free - some people do have issues with them popping off or trapping stuff underneath if they aren’t applied right. But if you trust your dentist and they seem thorough, it might be worth rolling the dice. At least in our case, the peace of mind has been worth the minor inconvenience of an extra step at cleanings now and then.

I still overthink this stuff too - dentistry always feels like a gamble. But looking at how much drama we’ve avoided so far, I’d probably do it again.

- Sealants have a good track record in my family, but I’ve seen both sides. My daughter’s lasted almost four years before a chunk came off - dentist fixed it at a checkup, no big deal.
- For kids with deep grooves, the benefits usually outweigh the hassle. Way fewer cavities compared to my own childhood (no sealants, lots of fillings).
- They’re not bulletproof. My nephew grinds his teeth and chews on pencils - his sealants needed patching twice in two years.
- I’m always a little wary about stuff getting trapped underneath, but our dentist uses a curing light and double-checks before sending us out.
- For adults, I skipped them and sometimes regret it. Fillings are way more of a pain (and cost more).
- If you trust your dentist and they’re careful about prep, it’s probably worth it - especially for kids who don’t love brushing or have tricky molars.
- Not perfect, but honestly, I’d rather deal with a quick patch than another filling down the road.

Totally get where you’re coming from. We did sealants for both my kids, and honestly, I was a little skeptical at first - just didn’t want to add another thing to the dental routine. But like you said, the payoff seems worth it, especially with deep grooves. My son’s lasted about three years before needing a touch-up, and the fix was quick, no drama. I do worry sometimes about stuff getting trapped underneath, but our dentist is super thorough with the prep and checks.

I skipped them for myself too, and yeah... fillings are definitely more of a hassle. If I could go back, I might’ve given sealants a shot, even as an adult. They’re not perfect, but I’d rather deal with a quick repair than another filling for sure. Your take makes a lot of sense to me.

I do worry sometimes about stuff getting trapped underneath, but our dentist is super thorough with the prep and checks.

I totally relate to this - my anxiety brain always goes straight to “what if something gets stuck and I don’t notice?” It’s reassuring hearing your dentist is really careful with the prep. That’s been my biggest hangup about sealants, honestly. My ortho mentioned them for my back molars (I’ve got those deep grooves too), but I kept picturing all the worst-case scenarios.

Reading your experience makes me feel a bit better about maybe giving them a try for my kid. Fillings have been such a pain for me - numbing, drilling, that lingering soreness after. Sealants seem less intense, even if they aren’t totally foolproof.

Kinda wish I’d done it when I was younger too. But yeah, like you said, quick repairs beat a whole new filling any day. Thanks for sharing how it went for you - it helps to know I’m not just overthinking this stuff.

I get why sealants are appealing, but I’m actually a bit more hesitant than most folks here. Had them put on in my 30s, and honestly, a couple of mine chipped off pretty fast. My dentist said it was probably just bad luck, but I still ended up with a cavity under one. Maybe I just had a rough experience, but now I’m more cautious about “preventive” stuff that could mask problems. Sometimes I wonder if old-school brushing and regular cleanings are simpler in the long run...

Sometimes I wonder if old-school brushing and regular cleanings are simpler in the long run...

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Sealants aren’t magic - if they chip or aren’t sealed well, bacteria can sneak in and cause trouble underneath. They’re best for kids with deep grooves, but yeah, nothing beats solid brushing and checkups. Sometimes less really is more, especially for adults.

Yeah, I totally feel this. My dentist brought up sealants for my kid, but honestly, the price made me pause. I mean, if you’re already on top of brushing and regular cleanings, sometimes it feels like you’re just paying extra for peace of mind. Plus, my teeth have survived decades with just a toothbrush and floss... not perfect, but hey, still chompers.

My dentist pitched sealants for my kid too, and I had that same “wait, how much?” moment. It’s like… do I want to pay for a plastic forcefield on molars, or just trust in the ol’ brush-and-floss routine? I survived the 90s with nothing but grape bubblegum toothpaste and a prayer, so sometimes I wonder if we’re just getting upsold.

But here’s the thing - my own teeth have a couple battle scars from cavities in those deep grooves. When my daughter’s first molars came in, they looked like little canyons. Step one, I tried to up my game: made sure she was brushing with me, flossing, all that jazz. Step two, I asked my dentist if sealants were really worth it or if they were just the dental version of rustproofing at the car dealership.

She broke it down pretty simply: sealants are like putting saran wrap over just the parts of teeth where gunk loves to hide. Not a guarantee, but less risk of “surprise, you need a filling!” down the line. We ended up doing them for her back teeth (just the ones with those crazy deep grooves), and honestly, insurance covered more than I expected. Still not cheap, but less than a filling.

I totally get the “am I being paranoid?” feeling though. My cousin skipped sealants for her kids - one’s never had a cavity, one’s had two fillings before age 10. Total roulette. I guess for me it was about reducing my odds of sitting through another “your kid needs Novocaine” appointment. That’s not fun for anyone.

Long story short: yeah, maybe it’s partly peace of mind…but also partly me being lazy and hoping to avoid future drama. If your kid’s got those deep grooves and your wallet can swing it (or insurance helps), it might be worth it. But hey, plenty of us survived on nothing but hope and Colgate... so who knows?

I used to think sealants were a gimmick, honestly. But after decades of fillings and root canals (don’t get me started on the cost), I’d do anything to spare my grandkids that hassle. Sure, brushing and flossing matter, but those grooves are sneaky. If insurance helps, I say go for it. I wish they’d been around when I was a kid... would’ve saved me a lot of drilling.

I'm with you on the grooves being sneaky. I got braces as a teen, and my ortho kept pointing out how food loved to hide in those little pits, even when I thought I was brushing well. I ended up with a couple fillings despite being borderline obsessive about cleaning. My dentist suggested sealants for my youngest, and honestly, after seeing how much less drama we've had at checkups, I'm sold. Maybe not a miracle cure, but definitely helps tip the odds in your favor.

Sealants came up at our last checkup too, and I’m still on the fence. My kid’s dentist was all for it, but when I asked about insurance, turns out it only covers part of the cost - so it’s not exactly cheap. I get the logic, especially with those deep grooves that seem impossible to keep clean, but I keep wondering if we’re overdoing it or if it's really worth the extra expense. Still, hearing fewer cavity scares does sound appealing...

When my daughter’s molars came in, those grooves looked like tiny caves - no way a toothbrush was getting all the way in there. Our dentist explained sealants as a “raincoat” for teeth, which made sense to me, but yeah, the price tag caught me off guard too. We ended up getting them on just her first molars to see how it went before committing to more. Anyone else tried just doing a few teeth at first, or is it really all-or-nothing?

We did the same thing - just started with the first set of molars for my son. Our dentist actually suggested it since those are usually the ones with the deepest grooves and are more prone to cavities early on. I was a little skeptical about whether doing only a few teeth would make a difference, but honestly, it’s been fine so far. No new cavities in those sealed teeth, and he’s not complaining about anything feeling weird.

But here’s where I might push back a bit: I get why dentists suggest sealants for all the molars, but sometimes it does feel like overkill, especially when you factor in how much it adds up. My sister went all-in with her daughter (every single molar), and they still ended up getting a cavity in one of the unsealed baby teeth that fell out six months later... so I’m not convinced it has to be all-or-nothing.

I guess what I’m saying is, starting small seems totally reasonable. If you see it working - no cavities popping up and your kid isn’t bothered by them - it’s not like you can’t add more later. We’re just waiting until my son gets his second set of molars before even thinking about extra sealants, and our dentist was cool with that plan.

One thing I will say is to keep an eye on them at checkups. One of my son’s sealants chipped off after a year (he chews ice, oops), but they fixed it fast and didn’t charge extra. It’s not a forever solution, but for now, I think doing just a few makes sense if money’s tight or you’re unsure.

Honestly, dental stuff is expensive enough as is... picking your battles feels fair to me.

Yeah, those sealants can feel like a “do I really need this for every tooth?” kind of thing, especially with the price tag. My youngest got them on her first molars only, and honestly, she’s had fewer issues than her older brother, who got the full mouth treatment. Go figure. I do wonder, though - has anyone’s kid actually complained about how they feel? Mine acted like nothing happened, but I’ve heard some kids get weirded out by the texture for a bit.

I do wonder, though - has anyone’s kid actually complained about how they feel? Mine acted like nothing happened, but I’ve heard some kids get weirded out by the texture for a bit.

Mine were the same - total non-event for them. I kept expecting complaints or at least some dramatic “my teeth feel funny!” but nope, they just went about their day like nothing changed. I will say, I’ve had a couple of patients who didn’t love the texture at first, especially if they’re the super-sensitive type. Usually it’s more of a “this feels slick” kind of comment, but it fades pretty fast. Curious if anyone’s actually had a kid want them taken off, though?

I’ve seen a handful of kids say the sealants felt “bumpy” or “sticky” at first, but honestly, it never lasted more than a day or two. Never had anyone insist on getting them removed, though. Did anyone notice if their kids avoided chewing on those teeth for a bit?