How Long Can Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants typically last up to 10 years before your child needs them reapplied. However, dental sealants can sometimes get damaged, wear away, or fall off earlier than anticipated. This guide offers insight into how long you can expect your child's dental sealants to last and how you can help your child get the most out of them.

Helping your child get the most out of dental sealants

The amount of time dental sealants last depends on how well they are cared for. While most dental sealants last at least five years, early problems with a child's sealants could occur without proper care.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are painted over the grooves of a child's premolars and molars to prevent dental cavities. Dental sealants are a preventive treatment rather than a treatment for cavities that have already formed. The dental sealants procedure is minimally invasive and takes less than an hour to complete in most cases.

The expected lifespan of dental sealants

Dental sealants last for five to 10 years in most cases. The sealants may come off all at once in certain instances, although they generally wear away slowly over time. This means a procedure to remove and replace the sealants is optional. In most cases, the dentist can reapply new coatings once the sealants wear away and expose enamel.

How to make your child’s dental sealants last

As previously mentioned, the amount of time that dental sealants last depends on the quality of care they receive. Much like enamel, the sealant material needs to be protected from chips, cracks, and other forms of damage. It is encouraged for children to avoid biting hard foods or objects such as hard candies and pencils. Sticky or chewy candies such as caramels can also pull the sealants and cause early problems. It is also important to limit the consumption of tougher meats and avoid biting down on ice cubes.

Additional methods of cavity prevention

Dental sealants are a great way to reduce the risk of dental cavities for children, but they only protect the grooves in the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. Keep a child's other teeth and sealants healthy by avoiding excessive sugar consumption and ensuring they visit the pediatric dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. Children are particularly vulnerable to dental trauma from a facial injury (e.g., a sporting accident), so wearing a mouthguard is encouraged.