Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary. The likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers are obvious candidates, but adults can benefit from sealants as well. The best way to determine the need for sealants is to evaluate the person's risk for pit and fissure decay, which continues throughout adulthood and varies from one peron to another. Risk can also vary for the same person over time, because changes in personal habits, health status and medication use are known to increase risk for decay.
Prevention is better than treatment.
When one considers that properly applied and maintained sealants are extremely effictive in preventing pit and fissure decay, sealants are a very cost-effective measure. Savings in both dollars and discomfort can be gained by application of sealants, rather than allowing decay and requiring the tooth to be restored. For over 20 years the American Dental Association has evaluated sealants, and a number of different brands have been awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance, a symbol of a product's safety and effectiveness. In addition, many private dental plans cover sealants. If your plan does not, contact your employer's benefits manager to suggest that sealants be included in future dental plans.