My grandson had the same thing happen—sealant just peeled right off after a few months, even though he’s not much of a candy eater. I remember thinking maybe it was something we missed, but his dentist said it can depend on how deep the grooves are or even how much saliva a kid has. Makes me wonder if sealants are just hit or miss for some kids. I do get a bit obsessive about checking his teeth now, probably more than I did with my own kids back in the day... Funny how things change.
That’s interesting, because my youngest had a sealant pop off after maybe five months too, and she’s not even big on sweets. I remember feeling kind of guilty, like maybe we’d missed something with her brushing or snacks, but her dentist said pretty much the same—sometimes those deep grooves just don’t hold onto the sealant as well, or the tooth is still growing in and the fit isn’t perfect. It’s a bit frustrating, honestly.
Still, I’d rather go through reapplying sealant than deal with a filling down the road. I do think they help for most kids, but yeah, it’s not a 100% guarantee. I totally get the “obsessive” checking thing—my parents never hovered over our teeth like this, but now I’m basically a hawk when it comes to my kids’ brushing and checkups. Times have changed... and maybe for the better? At least we have more tools now, even if they’re not always foolproof.
Yeah, I’ve noticed sealants don’t always stick around as long as you’d hope. My kid’s first one lasted maybe a year, the second one popped off in months. Dentist said the same—sometimes it’s just the tooth shape or timing. Still worth it, though. Definitely beats dealing with a cavity later, even if it means extra trips for touch-ups. I do wish there was a better way to check if they’re still on besides waiting for the next cleaning...
We’re in the same boat over here—my daughter’s sealant just kind of…vanished one day. I only noticed because she was chewing gum and suddenly said, “What’s this hard bit?” Turns out, it was her “raincoat.” I always wonder if there’s a DIY way to check, like with a flashlight or something, but I never seem to spot anything. Still, I figure even a year of protection is better than paying for a filling. Wish insurance covered those touch-ups, though.
That’s wild—my kid’s sealant disappeared too and honestly, I was way more stressed about it than she was. I tried the flashlight trick but just couldn’t tell what I was looking at. I totally agree, even a little extra protection feels worth it, but it’s so frustrating that insurance is picky about covering re-dos. I always worry I’ll miss something important between visits.