Question/ Advice about pediatric dental sealants

[DawnCt1]

Here Here!! I'm totally with you! No sealants, flouride treatments, flouride water bottes. There isn't even proof that flouride toothpaste prevents decay!

Jackie

I believe there is significant evidence and I am not going to bother to search for it. When I grew up, as well as DH and a lot of other people I know, it wasn't unusual to have a lots of fillings. I have four DSs, all had flouride vitamens, or flouridated water, sealants, flouride treatments and not one out of the four has ever had a cavity. The focus on dentistry has even had to change because the "bread and butter" of filling and drilling is on the decline. More dentists are going in esthetics, whiting, orthodontia, etc, etc.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

The timing of this thread is amazing. DD was just at the dentist yesterday and the dentist was discussing sealing all four of her 6 year old molars.

I asked all the typical question and received good answers. The dentist also infomed me that she has sealants on her teeth that she has had for 20 years.

When your child had sealants they can no longer chew hard candy or ice. Something about damaging the sealant and than it will allow stuff to get to the tooth and could cause decay.

She assured me that they are safe and that the end results are so much better than children without sealants.

And right now (knocking on wood) DD teeth are great. No cavities or even the slightest problem with any of her teeth.

I was so worried because I don't think DD does the best job on her teeth.

 

[PixieDust32]

I do have several of those silver mercury fillings from when i was in middle school and so far no problem!

 

[liamsaunt]

I had sealants put on my teeth over 20 years ago with no ill effects. My mouth is completely cavity-free.

The only drawback I have found as an adult is that due to my fondness for crusty bread and other hard foods, I have to have the sealants redone every four years or so. Luckily my dental insurance covers the full cost, but it is something to think about if your insurance won't cover it. The one time I had them replaced without full dental coverage I think I paid $110/tooth, and I have 12 teeth sealed.

 

[LaLa]

Are you all talking about sealing the second set of teeth? My DD's dentist recommended sealing her baby molars b/c they have deep crevaces (sp?). Would you seal the baby teeth or just wait til the second set come in?

BTW...she just had a baby molar removed b/c of a deep cavity.

Thanks for any help, and thanks to the OP for posting...lots of good info here!

These are his first molars. He's 7. The way it was explained to me was that since his molars had erupted, he wanted to get them sealed as quickly as possible, because if he does get a cavity, he cannot seal it.

So far we have been lucky with no cavities with either one of the kids, but I remember being cavity free well up until my college days, and after that, I started having problems and have had to have several fillings and a couple of root canals. My root canals came when I was pregnant with each of the kids. I guess they sucked all the calcium right out of me.