Would you get that protective coating for your kid’s molars?

Would you go for it?

We went for the sealants when my kid’s dentist suggested it. Honestly, I was skeptical because, like you said, “it’s not totally necessary, just recommended.” The cost wasn’t nothing, but in my case, I’ve had a lot of fillings and dental work myself - wish I’d had that option as a kid. No regrets so far. My kid hates getting cavities filled way more than the quick sealant appointment. If your insurance covers it, I’d say it’s worth considering.

I totally get where you’re coming from about wanting to avoid fillings down the line, but I’ll admit, I see it a little differently. My oldest had sealants put on a few years ago and honestly, they didn’t last as long as I’d hoped. Within a year or so, one had chipped off and the dentist wanted to redo it (and charge again, of course). We brush and floss regularly at home, so I started wondering if the sealants were really doing much for us.

I’m not against them, but I do think the benefit depends a lot on your kid’s risk for cavities and how well they keep up with oral hygiene. For us, focusing on regular cleanings and good brushing habits has worked just as well - and less hassle with re-applying stuff. If your kid’s prone to cavities or has deep grooves in their molars, maybe it’s more worth it. But I don’t think it’s a must for everyone. Just my two cents...

Interesting take. I actually had the opposite experience - my youngest got sealants and they’ve held up for three years now, no issues. I wonder if it comes down to the dentist’s technique or maybe even the kid’s chewing habits? For us, it was worth it since she’s got those deep grooves and brushing alone just wasn’t cutting it. But yeah, I get that it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing.

I wonder if it comes down to the dentist’s technique or maybe even the kid’s chewing habits?

That’s pretty much where I landed too. My oldest had sealants done and they lasted maybe a year before chipping off, but my nephew’s have stuck around for ages - same family, different dentists. Makes me think it’s a bit of a gamble, like rolling the dice on hardware longevity (except you can’t just reboot your teeth).

Do you think diet plays into it? My kid is a popcorn and ice chewer - total nightmare for anything fragile in his mouth. I’m half convinced he could gnaw through steel cable if he tried. Maybe that’s why sealants never stood a chance for us.

I get the “deep grooves” thing though. Some kids’ molars look like the Grand Canyon, and brushing really doesn’t reach all those nooks. But then again, my youngest barely has any grooves at all and her dentist said sealants would be overkill.

Anyone else notice dentists seem split on recommending them? One told us “essential for every kid,” another said “eh, only if they’re high risk.” Makes me wonder how much is science vs how much is just personal style.

Still, three years with no issues is impressive. Wish we had that luck... or maybe I just need to hide the popcorn.

Yeah, the dentist opinions are all over the map. I totally get what you mean about the “Grand Canyon” grooves - my kid’s molars look like tiny mountain ranges, so brushing is basically a lost cause back there. We did sealants and they held up okay, but he’s not a popcorn fiend (yet). Honestly, if your kid’s chewing on ice and hard stuff, I’d be worried about ANY dental work holding up. Feels like sometimes you just gotta pick your battles and hope for the best.

I hear you on the “Grand Canyon” grooves - my daughter’s back teeth look like a topographical map, and it’s just impossible to get every nook with a toothbrush. We went for sealants after our dentist practically begged us (she called them “insurance for lazy brushers,” which felt accurate). They’ve lasted two years so far, but I’m always side-eyeing her when she crunches ice. Honestly, I’d rather replace a chipped sealant than deal with a cavity and filling later. Sometimes it feels like a lose-lose, but I’ll take my chances with the coating.

Totally get the “insurance for lazy brushers” bit - my son’s molars are like little canyons too, and even with him being a decent brusher, I just don’t trust those deep grooves. We did sealants a few years ago and honestly, it’s been a relief not stressing every time he skips a good brush. I do worry about them chipping, but compared to the drama of filling a cavity? Not even close. I’d rather patch up a sealant than have him go through drilling.

I get the whole peace-of-mind thing, but man, my wallet cries every time the dentist suggests sealants. We skipped them for my kid - figured I’d just nag her about brushing and flossing instead. So far, no cavities, but I do check those molars like a hawk. Not sure I trust anything that chips off that easily... especially at those prices.

- Totally get it, those prices are wild.
- I skipped sealants too - figured if my kid brushes well, it’s probably good enough?
- Haven’t had any issues yet.
- Honestly, the idea of something chipping off their teeth just seems weird...
- You’re not alone keeping a close eye on those molars.

Honestly, the idea of something chipping off their teeth just seems weird...

Same here - my brain just pictures little molar flakes floating around every time they eat popcorn. I asked our dentist and he said sealants are “pretty durable,” but honestly, my kid’s brushing habits are already a minor miracle. Not sure I want to mess with that delicate ecosystem.

I totally get where you’re coming from. I was nervous about sealants at first, too - just felt like one more thing that could go wrong. But my youngest got them last year, and honestly, they’ve held up fine so far. The brushing routine didn’t get thrown off, either. I think as long as your dentist isn’t worried, it’s probably okay to trust the process... even if it feels a bit weird at first.

That’s reassuring to hear. I was curious - did your dentist mention how long the sealants are expected to last? Mine said a few years, but I’ve read some kids need touch-ups sooner. Wondering if it’s really that common or just rare cases.

My kid got sealants about two years ago and the dentist said they usually last between 2-5 years, depending on how much chewing/grinding your kid does. In our case, one of them chipped after just a year (my son’s a big fan of hard candy… lesson learned), so we had to get it touched up at his next cleaning. Dentist didn’t make a big deal out of it - said it happens more often than people think, especially with younger kids who are rough on their teeth.

I wouldn’t say it’s super rare for sealants to need repairs. It’s more like, some last longer than others and it depends a lot on the kid. The good part is, fixing or reapplying them is quick and painless. I’d still go for the sealants even knowing they might need a touch-up here and there - it’s saved us from cavities so far.

That sounds pretty similar to what happened with my daughter. Her sealant chipped after a year too - she’s a nail biter, so maybe that didn’t help. Did your dentist mention if there’s any limit to how many times they can reapply it? I’ve wondered if redoing it too often wears the tooth down, but ours said it’s not really a problem. Honestly, I’d rather deal with a few touch-ups than more cavities... seems like the lesser evil.

Honestly, I’d rather deal with a few touch-ups than more cavities... seems like the lesser evil.

Yeah, that’s pretty much how I see it too. My kid’s had sealants redone twice now - dentist didn’t seem worried at all. Did your dentist mention if biting nails could make it chip faster, or is it just random luck?

My kid’s had sealants redone twice now - dentist didn’t seem worried at all.

Honestly, I’d push back a bit on the “no big deal” attitude. Sealants are great, but if they keep chipping or falling off, it can actually trap bacteria underneath and make things worse than no sealant at all. Nail biting, chewing on pens, or even just grinding teeth can definitely wear them down faster - my youngest is a nail biter and her sealants barely lasted a year. Sometimes it’s not just random luck, there’s usually a reason. If you’re redoing them that often, might be worth asking if there’s another type of sealant or maybe just focusing more on brushing and diet instead.