Conference moira::parenting

    My opinion here:

    	People have been getting along fine for years without having
    chemicals directly applied to their tooth surfaces.

    	As long as your son uses fouride toothpaste (the number one
    preventative against tooth decay) and as long as he brushes on a
    regular basis and does not eat an inordinate amount of sugar, he should
    be fine.

    				Wendy

It depends on whether or not your teeth are more suseptable to cavities.....
Mine are fine - haven't had a cavity since I was 16.  My husband is another
story - he gets approximately 2-3 a YEAR - and he is 33.  Two years ago
our dentist recommended the sealant - so he had it done - it lasts about a
year snd since he didn't get any cavities last year he had it done again
early this year.  At his recent appt for his regular cleaning - NO cavities
again.  He feels that the $120 investment (he had 4 molars done at $30.00
each- this must be standard) is very much worth it - especially since he HATES
having cavities filled! - I also was sceptical about having the sealant 
put on his teeth - but we found even with my husbands diligent brushing and
flossing daily and regular 6 month cleanings - he wasn't able to control the
cavities.  Also, our dental plan doesn't cover John's sealant but from 
what I understand if the person is under 16 and it is recommended by your
regular dentist - the dental insurance should pay for it!

The science of dentistry is ever changing - I believe that if there is 
a sealant that can protect our kids & future adults from having any cavities
than it's worth the $$$ and effort. In this day and age adults are keeping their
teeth longer and longer - unlike our parents who sometimes had even healthy 
teeth pulled and false teeth put in....... so if this helps this process 
along - I say go for it.

    
    Most insurance companies cover it for children under 12.  Check again.
    
    My dentist only charges $15 /tooth.  I had my molars sealed in my 20's
    and I paid for it myself.  I think its a great idea, and I never had
    any cavities until my late teens.  I think its well worth the money to
    protect the teeth - after all they are going to have them for life.
    
    My opinion -
    
    Sue

    
    BTW, they told me the sealant would last about as long as a normal
    filling.  I have had no trouble with mine and its been about 8 years.
    
    Sue
    

    I seem to remember a note about this in the previous volume,
    moderators, am I right?
    
    I too think it is worth investigating and think that tooth 
    decay rates are not only affected by environmental elements
    (food, etc) but also the nature of the teeth. 
    
    Monica

    Yes, I had asked this question a year or two ago.  We did not have the
    sealant done for my kids - my dentist charges $15/tooth (he said he was
    the cheapest around).  Neither my husband or I have had a cavity in 9
    years or more (never, for me) so I felt that my kids already have a
    fighting chance of not getting them.  My sisters on the other hand have
    cavities all the time - I think I would consider it then.  The dentist
    will ask us about it every so often and we just say no.
    
    -sandy
    

>    I seem to remember a note about this in the previous volume,
>    moderators, am I right?

Yes, V3, note 1270.  But you don't need to be a moderator to open V3 and do a 
dir/title="teeth"

FWIW, we had it done to our son, who had a couple of cavities prior to 
sealing, but none since.  As has been said in note 1270 and/or in previous 
replies to this note, there's more to it than fluoride, dental hygiene, and 
cutting down on sweets.  Some teeth, either because of poor enamel or 
fissures in them are just more prone to cavities.  I'd suggest asking the 
dentist if s/he routinely recommends sealing or if there is something about 
your child's teeth that would make it more advisable than for normal teeth.

Clay

     $15/tooth!  Last year I got charged $50 per tooth!

     Do the 6 year molars fall out?  If so, I wouldn't get them sealed.
     Otherwise, go for it.

     Karen

    
    We had 4 of Chris' teeth done, and as his adult teeth come in, will
    probably do those as well.  My dentist charges $12.00/tooth.  His
    dentist charges ~$25./tooth.  I believe that John Hancock picked up
    some/most of this.
    
    Both his father and I have very healthy, strong teeth, and he seems to
    be following suit, so it's probably unneccesary.  BUT, both his father
    and I had TERRIBLE experiences with the dentist as kids (just "routine"
    cavities etc), and it's to the point where I HATE going so much, that I
    don't always go when I should.  If we can avoid that kind of negativism
    between him and the dentist - and maybe save a tooth or two in the
    meantime - it's worth it to me.
    
    The teeth they did are amongst the last 4 molars that he'll lose, and
    the sealant is supposed to last until they fall out.  I think they said
    it lasts ~6 years.
    
    Patty

My husband corrected me last night - he didn't have the molars redone
this year - he had two more teeth done for the first time (total of
6 teeth with one coat of sealant.  The dentist told him "most" children
and adults average between 6-7years for the sealant to last.  And for children
this gets them through the "cavity prone years" and most will not need
recoating done.  But for those kids and adult that have problem teeth - the
sealant just about eliminates cavity's which makes everyone happy.
At a cost of $15.00 - $30.00 each X 6 = $90.00 - $180.00 spread over 6 years
(avg) = $15.00 - $30.00 a year.  Which = little or no pain (no cavities) is 
well worth it, and if the child is under 12 "most" dental insurance covers
it.  

I also believe heredity plays an important role in one's teeth - but that 
alone doesn't control it.  For example my Mom has terrible teeth (false teeth
at 35) but my Dad has great teeth (still has most all his teeth at 58) - 
even though he has only gone to a Dentist 2-3 times his whole life) I have
4 Sisters: Sister 1 - has great teeth, Me: has great teeth, Sister 2: Awful
teeth (lots of cavities & dk.staining) Sister 3: Even worse teeth - (lots of
cavities, dk. staining, crooked, extra teeth, Sister 4: boarderline (lots of
cavities, but not as much staining) - Conclusion: (my own) Sister 1 was
rarely sick when young (took little medicine) Me: allergic to Penicillin (took
very little medicine), Sister 2, 3, sick all the time and was given "lots"
of liquid penicillin and other medicines (when adult teeth came in they were
dark in color and stained quickly and steadily through their lives, and 
developed lots of cavities) Sister 4 - has ashma - but didn't take alot of
penicillin - only inhalers were used.  I think that it is very important
to watch what your children's baby teeth are exposed to - because it has
a strong possibility of effecting their adult teeth as well.

    My middle son has had some teeth sealed.  The dentist explained that
    his teeth had very deep, super narrow crevices that *couldn't* be
    brushed out thoroughly with a regular toothbrush.  There was some
    yellowing, but no decay, and the dentist wanted to keep it that way.
    John Hancock picked up part of the cost. It was painless to my son.  I 
    would definitely recommend it.
    
    Wish they had sealants when I was a kid..  Might have saved me some
    drilling.  :-(
          

    Thanks for all the responses.  I we will DEFINATELY have Pete's
    teeth sealed.  
    
    Since I have to pay for this, I was wondering if anyone can refer me to
    a dentist in the Southern NH area that was $15.00 a tooth?  Again, my
    dentist is $30.00 a tooth.
    
    I'm Linda at WREATH::VASSIL
    
    Thanks!