“Do dental sealants need to be reapplied?”
We decided to get my daughter dental sealants because our insurance covers it and we feel that it'll help prevent her from getting tooth decay. However, a lot of our friends are telling us not to bother since they don't last. Is this true? Do dental sealants need to be reapplied often?
16 Answers
I do not love sealants unless placed by a pediatric dentist. A poorly place sealant is 10 times worse than no sealant at all. They leak and we dentists can’t tell until the cavity is large. I’m not putting sealants in any of my children.
Sometimes they do need to be redone. Each individual, depending on their habits is different. It is not necessarily a one time and done issue.
Sealants can wear off. They are not meant to be permanent. They are only meant to cover the surface until the child is out of there cavity prone years. Average time before replacement would be 3 to 5 years
A good placed dental sealant lasts about 3 years because of the chewing forces on the teeth. Dental sealants can be effective, but only if the person keeps the teeth with the sealants extremely clean. I see many sealants that end up with decay underneath them when the individual allows plaque bacteria to seep underneath the sealants, and then the decay can be pretty deep. If hygiene is good then it’s a good idea for sealants. If hygiene is poor then it could be a poor choice.
Yes, dental sealants should be evaluated every year. They can be reapplied if needed.
Sealants are a preventative coating that reduces the chances of tooth decay. Studies have shown that cavity-prone children have seen a reduction of tooth decay up to 60%. Sealants are not meant to last too long, the purpose they serve is to reduce damage to teeth at most susceptible times. However, some sealants can last for a very long time but those are not very common. Also, after the initial application of sealants, it is up to you and the dentist if it is deemed wise to reapply it as the patient still might be at a risk for tooth decay.
In younger children and teens it is not common to lose sealants, but it does occur. Your dentist will be able to determine the benefit of replacement if that becomes an issue. I am 58 years old and had sealants placed at a young age. To this day the majority of them are still in place, and, knock on wood, I have never had a filling. Not a waste of money or time.
If it's sealed well, no
This varies from patient to patient and clinician to clinician. Variations in how they are placed leads to variations in how long they last. Also, patient diet and oral acid levels lead to varying degrees of breakdown. Although in some instances they need to be reapplied, this is a preventative procedure. In my mind, I would rather do something to prevent a problem than something that is irreversible to fix a problem any day of the week. I highly recommend sealants.
Dental sealants are a great way to prevent cavities on the chewing surface of teeth. The diet and hygiene of the patient will help determine how long they last. Nothing lasts forever! They can be reapplied when they wear or are lost. They are a worthwhile investment in your daughter's health.
Dental sealants are an excellent way to protect the biting surfaces of teeth where there are multiple pits and grooves which are harder to keep clean. They can last for years, but unfortunately, some patients have a tendency to lose them due to stresses of clenching and grinding or chewing on destructive things like ice or other very hard substances. We see them last anywhere from a few years to sometimes a decade in some patients. I wish they had been available when I was a child! It is a worthwhile service in the majority of patients, and I would not hesitate to place them on my child (we put them on both of our children’s teeth - they are now young adults and most of them are still in service)
The sealant material soaks way down into the grooves of the teeth. The part on the surface can wear, but that is not the critical area. The toothbrush can’t get into the grooves, so sealants really help to prevent decay.
Stephen Lashen
Stephen Lashen
Sometimes they need to be reapplied but not frequently. Even if we can't see the sealant they will leave behind microscopic tags making the enamel more resistant to decay.
Dear patient,
Dental sealants are highly recommended for deep ampullar fissures on the molars. When applied properly, it does not need to be replaced all the time. In case sealers are worn off, it is recommended to be redone on the recall visits.
Dental sealants are highly recommended for deep ampullar fissures on the molars. When applied properly, it does not need to be replaced all the time. In case sealers are worn off, it is recommended to be redone on the recall visits.
Dental sealants are good. And they do wear off in about 11-12 months.
Dental sealants are not reapplied that often but there is an occasion where the are. Some children have a heavy bite on their back teeth which could cause the sealant to break. We have put sealants on children and they have lasted for 2-3 years to wear down
