How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants are thin protective barriers for your child’s teeth. Most sealants last about 5 to 10 years. The material of the sealant also matters. Resin-based sealants usually hold up longer. Glass ionomer sealants last about 3 to 5 years.

According to the CDC, dental sealants can prevent up to 80% of cavities in the back teeth for two years and continue protecting against about 50% of cavities for up to four years. Regular dental checkups allow your dentist to check whether the sealant is still intact and whether it needs repair or replacement.

A lifespan of 5 to 10 years may seem like a wide range, but several factors can affect how long dental sealants remain intact on your or your child’s teeth.

Chewing pressure

Sealants may wear down faster than usual if your child often chews on hard and sticky foods like candies. Something too sticky, such as caramel, may pull out the material entirely.

Quality of application

The type of material influences how long the sealants last. What matters even more is how that material is applied. Dental sealants placed by a skilled dentist last a long time before needing replacement.

Teeth grinding

Does your child grind their teeth? A nighttime teeth-grinding habit (bruxism) exerts a lot of pressure on teeth. It may cause the sealant material to chip or crack.

Oral hygiene

Good oral hygiene habits protect the bond of the sealant with the tooth, and they include routine visits to the dentist.

You don’t have to check your child’s molars every day. The easiest way to monitor your child’s teeth and sealants is to keep up with regular dental visits. In between those checkups, these few signs are worth noticing:

• Your child complaining that their molar tooth (with sealant) feels weird
• They mention a rough or chipped edge
• Food getting stuck in the teeth with sealants
• A visible crack or pit in the material
• Darkening around the sealants

These signs don’t usually mean there’s an emergency. But you shouldn’t ignore them either. Your dentist may recommend replacing old sealants with new ones so that your child’s cavity protection lasts much longer.