grace'smom Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I was just wondering if dental sealants are a common recommendation these days. Our dentist told me today that my daughter's teeth are very grooved and she will probably need sealants. She is not the type to recommend unnecessary treatments, so I was wondering what it means that my daughter has a lot of grooves in her teeth. She has so many food allergies that I often worry about her nutrition, but she is average height, growing and healthy looking most of the time. Is this a common thing? Could the grooves indicate any sort of nutritional problem? Thanks in advance! I'm sure I'm just worrying for worrying's sake, but it would be good to hear from some other moms on the issue- plus I'd LOVE to get some nonHAM related topics on the general board, LOL!:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkacademy Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 All of mine have sealants. I wanna say they do it around 5-6 maybe. It has always been a common thing as I am pretty certain all my friends children have them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 All my dc except for youngest ds have them; and he will get them, just hasn't yet. I am very in favor of these for us, as our family history of bad teeth is strong.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Oh yeah, my dd has them. I am one of those who get a bit freaked out about analgam in the teeth and I think sealants are great. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grace'smom Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 So do a lot of children have grooved teeth then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita in NC Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 All my boys have sealants on their molars. My youngest (7) just had his done since the dentist has to wait for the last of the molars to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I had them when I was young, and my dd has them, so far. I have no problem with them. However, on one of my dd's sealants I guess it did not seal completely around the tooth, and a tiny cavity formed in between the sealant and the tooth. That never happened to me though, and I wouldn't think it's common. It was so tiny they didn't even charge us to fill it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I have bad enamel and my dd had to have some dental work done as a toddler so she likely does as well. No one ever said anything about grooved enamel just that ours was weak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I'm mainly here to :bigear: I asked at our pediatric dentist about them and was told the dentist no longer recommends them because he had too many cases of tooth decay beneath the sealant. Then I went in for a cleaning at *my* dentist office today and he was doing sealants on a 8-9-ish yo kid in the next room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I was told that they have to wait until they have their permanent teeth - their permanent molars. My 9 yro still has a bunch of baby teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessAriel Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Most of my kids have them but dd 18 got cavities in spite of getting sealants. Several of them....she is the only one of the kids to turn out like that but the sealants did not work for her! Our new dentist does not recommend them. He says he sees a lot of decay in spite of having it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flobee76 Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 our nearly 7yo has them, and I regret getting them put on her teeth. I've recently found out that the sealants contain BPA. ugh. We are on our personal road to dental healing thru diet and supplements. I've seen some changes in our son's teeth. We're pretty excited. Will prolly opt out of sealants from here on out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 our nearly 7yo has them, and I regret getting them put on her teeth. I've recently found out that the sealants contain BPA. ugh. We are on our personal road to dental healing thru diet and supplements. I've seen some changes in our son's teeth. We're pretty excited. Will prolly opt out of sealants from here on out. Wow, you've really gotta post more on this. Can you elaborate on dental healing thru diet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 I refused sealants for my kids. My 15 yo has never had a cavity, 12 yo has had his share ;), and 7 yo has had none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flobee76 Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 (edited) Wow, you've really gotta post more on this. Can you elaborate on dental healing thru diet? check out the book Cure Tooth Decay We're focusing on the following: pastured meats and organs bone broth daily soaking grains to reduce phytic acid (when we do eat grains, i am trying to lower our intake) lactofermented beverages and vegetables (probiotics) raw milk, pastured butter, and other grass-fed dairy fermented cod liver oil high vitamin butter oil cell salts vitamin C brushing with Pascalite Clay Concentrace added to our water or mineral water Xylitol mints *no white flour, no white sugar. Only whole grains & unrefined sugars. **If you do a google on "remineralization" or "healing cavities", you'll find a LOT of info out there. Edited April 6, 2011 by flobee76 added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Mine do have them. I'd get them if I could. I have very groved teeth, so does one of my sons. He and I have accounted for the vast majority of our dental bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 absolutely. anything I can do to minimize cavities, I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary in VA Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Is this a common thing? Could the grooves indicate any sort of nutritional problem? I don't think the grooves in the teeth have anything at all to do with nutrition. It is just that teeth with grooves are more likely to form cavities because food can get stuck in the grooves. And sealants are very common for children once they get their permanent molars. Both my dds had them. I wish they had been available when I was a child :001_smile: Our dental insurance paid for them, so I think they are commonly accepted in dental practice. HTH, Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickelfritz Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Our dentist does them as soon as the molars break through. In fact, they just did 5 year olds, even though they weren't all the way out. They will re-touch ( for no extra charge) at the next visit. They also touched up (or will next time???) older dd's, where they are worn. This is also no extra charge, so I assume they think they are beneficial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Mine have had the sealants. No cavities until last time when dentist said dd had a very, very small cavity forming. It formed because she apparently has extremely grooved teeth (very deep grooves). Both he & another dentist who actually filled the tooth showed that her grooves were so deep even a toothbrush bristle wouldn't have fit all the way down in there (so she really had no way to clean it). I think grooved teeth are just something you have or don't have & it doesn't reflect a health issue. (Dd has no food allergies or health issues.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Sherry Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Yes, my daughter has a few. I forget how many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My dc have them on all their permanent molars. And we are a non-intervention type of family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Good question to bring up. Now I think the last time I looked into this the cost was crazy! Anyone remember about what they paid per tooth...we're uninsured so I'd be curious to know. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimnc Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Yep. Wish they had been around when I was a kid, I had a mouthful of fillings by the time I was 10. I do wonder about fluoride. My kids had more cavities when we lived in the city (w/ fluoridated water) than they have had in the past 5 years when we have been on well water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Mine have had the sealants. No cavities until last time when dentist said dd had a very, very small cavity forming. It formed because she apparently has extremely grooved teeth (very deep grooves). Both he & another dentist who actually filled the tooth showed that her grooves were so deep even a toothbrush bristle wouldn't have fit all the way down in there (so she really had no way to clean it). I think grooved teeth are just something you have or don't have & it doesn't reflect a health issue. (Dd has no food allergies or health issues.) My youngest has really deep groves and we've had all his teeth sealed. He developed small pits in the sides of two of his molars where there is a large groove too deep for brushing was. This was due to the teeth not forming correctly. The dentist filled these grooves and will probably end up filling the grooves on the top as soon as she sees any sign of decay. I also have very deep groves in my teeth and I am suffering a lot of problems in my 40's due to them. ;-( So for some, sealants are probably optional, but for my youngest they are very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Mine do have them. I'd get them if I could. I have very groved teeth, so does one of my sons. He and I have accounted for the vast majority of our dental bills. My dentist just put one in ME! I have a wisdom tooth that is hard to brush. He recommended it and I went for it. Definitely ask your dentist if he'd do it for you! My dc have them on all their permanent molars. And we are a non-intervention type of family. :iagree: We are VERY hands-off with medical care. If our dentist recommends sealants, we get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabrett Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My 17yo had sealants when she was around 10. She has never had a cavity. My 7yo got sealants when she was 6 and has not had a cavity. My 5yo has VERY BAD TEETH. He has not had sealants, but I wish they would have given them to him every time he had a molar erupt:glare:. I would get them. They do prevent cavities from getting in the groves of the molars where food partials can get caught and start dental caries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Mine have sealants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My dd has them. When the 6 yr molars came in they applied the sealant. I don't know about ds. He wasn't yet mine. If he is "unsealed" I will rectify that shortly. They go to the dentist at the end of this month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Our pediatric dentist recommends sealants for everyone. I had them as a child too and am totally on board with it. He seals them as the permanent teeth come in and DD has had 4 of hers sealed so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 These were free for ps kids but well that wasn't us. lol Our kids haven't had any cavities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Good question to bring up. Now I think the last time I looked into this the cost was crazy! Anyone remember about what they paid per tooth...we're uninsured so I'd be curious to know. Thanks! I want to say it was about $50 per tooth. We have dental insurance, but with a 90/10 split and i want to say we paid $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Mine do have them. I'd get them if I could. I have very groved teeth, so does one of my sons. He and I have accounted for the vast majority of our dental bills. I have a sealant on one of my teeth right now because it has deep grooves and the dentist recommended it. You should definitely ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My dd is too young for them, but once she's old enough, we'll definitely have it done. I had quite a few cavities as a child, so my dentist put sealants on my molars. I just had my first cavity a few months ago since having them put on close to twenty years ago. And I went through college living on diet soda and falling asleep without brushing. For me, they worked pretty darn well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Both DH and I have multiple cavities/fillings/crowns despite regular brushing since we were tots. I had 8 cavities at 10yo, despite minimal sweets, no soda, etc. The boys have deep grooves in their molars. I was quite anxious to get sealant as soon as it was appropriate. So far, so good. Neither has any cavities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchara Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My 9 yo does, and my 8 yo does on some. The others don't yet, but they will, if I have anything to say about it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 We do sealants asap after adult teeth pop in. Charges about 14 each tooth. Worth every penny in savings later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Both girls are getting sealants as their molars come in. We get the glass ones rather than the plastic even though our insurance doesn't cover them and they don't last as long. It's a bit shy of $50 a tooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) absolutely. anything I can do to minimize cavities, I do. :iagree: My son got his first round of sealants back when he was 5. The next round of sealants was when he was 10 (it wears off in the back molar areas). And this year, at age 15, he got another round of sealants. Sonny boy has Asperger's Syndrome, rare liver disease, and a low-protein diet (fruits/veggies BUT super high in carbs and sugar). He really doesn't brush his teeth well. He has never had a cavity -- thanks to the sealants!! Edited April 7, 2011 by tex-mex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-mex Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Our dentist does them as soon as the molars break through. In fact, they just did 5 year olds, even though they weren't all the way out. They will re-touch ( for no extra charge) at the next visit. They also touched up (or will next time???) older dd's, where they are worn. This is also no extra charge, so I assume they think they are beneficial. This is exactly what my son went thru with his original sealants and touch ups as he grew up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grace'smom Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share Posted April 7, 2011 Thanks guys! After hearing all your stories I'm actually looking forward to DD getting dental sealants. It sounds very beneficial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 My three older children all received sealants on their baby molars. Our ped. dentist is conservative in their application though -- for example, my 7yo has sealants on just two of his molars (deep grooves) but not the others, since the grooves on those teeth are less shallow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) My 9yo got them recently; my 6yo will get them in a year or two, as he doesn't have all of his permanent molars yet. Our dentist uses the BPA-free sealants, so I felt pretty comfortable doing the sealants. I want to say it was around $50 a tooth, but our insurance covered it; otoh, they wouldn't cover a filling in full, so sealants are a better deal. Edited April 7, 2011 by happypamama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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