My youngest used to get cavities like clockwork, even though we were doing all the brushing and flossing. Our dentist suggested sealants for her molars a couple years ago, and honestly, I was skeptical (and kinda annoyed at the extra cost). But wow, since then, she hasn’t had a single cavity in those back teeth. It’s been a huge relief, especially since she’s not exactly the world’s most patient brusher.
I know some folks worry about sealants wearing off or needing to be redone, but in our case, they’ve held up surprisingly well. Only downside was the initial expense (insurance covered part, but not all), and she did complain about the taste for like a day after. But compared to drilling and fillings? No contest.
Curious if anyone else has had similar luck—or maybe the opposite? Did sealants help your kids avoid cavities, or were there any issues?
Sealants were a game changer for my grandkids, too. Honestly, I remember when sealants first started getting popular—back in the day, my dentist was all about “good brushing and flossing” (which, let’s be real, only works if your kid actually does it and doesn’t just wet the toothbrush for show). My daughter got them for her twins a few years back, and they’ve had almost no cavities since. I’d call that a win, especially since they’re both a bit... selective with their oral hygiene routines.
I get the sticker shock, though. Insurance barely chipped in for us, and I grumbled a bit at first. But after seeing how much we saved on fillings and those fun lectures from the dentist, it felt worth it. Only hiccup was one sealant popped off after about a year, but the dentist patched it up quick. No big drama.
I know some folks are iffy about putting anything “extra” on teeth, but from what I’ve seen, the benefits outweigh the hassle—at least for my crew.
That’s pretty much how it went for us, too. I was a little skeptical at first—my oldest is notorious for “forgetting” to brush, and I figured nothing could really make up for that. But our dentist explained that sealants aren’t magic, just an extra layer of protection for those deep grooves in molars where kids always seem to get cavities. We went ahead with them, and honestly, it’s been a relief not hearing about new fillings every checkup.
Cost was a sticking point for us as well. Insurance barely covered half, and I remember grumbling about it on the drive home. But after a couple years of no new cavities (and no panicked calls from school about toothaches), it feels like money well spent. It’s funny how you don’t really notice the savings until you’re not shelling out for fillings every few months.
We did have one sealant come off early, too. My youngest bit down on a popcorn kernel—rookie move—and the dentist just reapplied it at her next visit. No extra charge, which was nice.
I know some folks worry about putting “chemicals” or whatever on their kids’ teeth, but I figure if it keeps them out of the drill’s way, I’m all for it. Curious if anyone’s dentist pushed back against sealants? Ours was super encouraging, but I’ve heard some are more old-school and stick to the “just brush better” mantra.