Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 12/6/2006

Question
I have an 8 year old son who had sealants on 4 of his molars in August 2004.  He had his 6 month check up today (he goes regularly) and we are told that all but one sealant are worn off completely and need to be replaced. Is this "normal" to have to replace these so soon?  Thank you for any information/help you can give.

Answer
Dear Erika,

Sealants have a variable life span, depending on how well they are applied and the amount of functional wear they incur. The physical wear depends very much on the shape of the teeth, the presence of any clenching/grinding habits, and the way the sealants contact their opposing tooth surfaces; this can account for the wide variability seen in the durability of sealants.

That being said, a two-year life span is at the low end of expectations.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY