Do My Child’s Sealants Ever Need to Be Replaced?

There’s an easy way to reduce your child’s risk for cavities. With dental sealants, you can cover over the grooves at the top of their molars where plaque and tartar are likely to hide. 

That’s why Irene Zaki, DDS, offers dental sealants at Happy Teeth Children’s Dentistry in Riverside, California. With this preventive measure, you slash the likelihood that your child will get a cavity and need a filling. 

That said, sealants don’t last forever. Let’s examine how these protective tooth coverings work and when they must be replaced. 

Understanding dental sealants

Tooth decay is one of the most common issues in kids. Per the National Institutes of Health, it affects 23% of kids ages 2–5, 52% of kids ages 6–8, and more than 17% of kids ages 6–11. As a parent, you don’t want your child to be a part of that statistic. 

You probably do what you can to brush their teeth and monitor the oral health habits they handle themselves. But it’s not always easy to thoroughly brush the back molars — or to ensure they do so on their own. 

With dental sealants, we help to lower your child’s risk of tooth decay dramatically. In fact, these protective coverings can help to prevent up to 80% of cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Getting the sealant is quick and painless. Dr. Zaki applies a specialized solution to the grooves of your child’s molar and hardens it in place. The result is a tooth with significant protection against cavities. 

Sealants aren’t permanent, though, and periodic replacements are sometimes necessary. 

When to replace sealants 

Sealants should last several years, assuming you and your child stay current on their oral care habits. 

If the sealant is damaged, it might need to be replaced sooner. Encourage your child to avoid chewing on ice and hard foods to protect the sealant. Also, make sure they wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports. 

Ask your child periodically how the sealant feels. If they say it’s wiggling or feels loose, visit Dr. Zaki. 

You don’t have to worry about monitoring their sealants on your own. Dr. Zaki checks their sealants at each visit to our office for your child’s routine teeth cleanings. She lets you know how they’re doing and when to consider reapplying them. 

Sealants give you a way to lower your child’s risk of cavities dramatically. To ensure they stay functional and continue offering protection, stay up on your child’s twice-yearly teeth cleaning. 

Call Happy Teeth Children's Dentistry to schedule your child’s next appointment with Dr. Zaki so she can check your child’s sealants or book your visit online.