Key Takeaways
- Sealants Are for Adults Too: Adults can use sealants on their back teeth to help stop cavities.
- Lasts a Long Time: Sealants can last 5 to 10 years and can be put back on if they wear off.
- Quick and Easy: Getting sealants is fast and doesn’t hurt. You don’t need drilling or shots.
- Saves Money: Even if insurance doesn’t pay for them, sealants usually cost less than fixing cavities later.
- Helps Daily Care: Sealants work best when combined with brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups.
Most people think sealants are for teens. Truth is, plenty of adults in Oxnard could use them, too. Dental sealants protect molars, last for years, and often prevent cavities that would otherwise need a filling. Insurance doesn’t always cover them for adults, but the cost is usually low compared to fixing decay later.
At Puri Dentistry, we hear it all the time: “Aren’t sealants just something schools do for children?” The answer: not always. Adults get cavities. Adults eat sugar. Adults grind their teeth at night. Sealants don’t care about age; they just add another line of defense.
What Sealants Actually Are
Let’s clear this up. A sealant is a thin, clear (sometimes white) coating that covers the top of a molar. Those deep grooves in your back teeth? They’re tough to clean, even with good brushing. That’s where bacteria love to hide.
Think of sealants as a little shield. Not forever, but long enough to make a difference.
Why Adults Still Benefit
Adults often think they’re past the stage of getting sealants. Not really. Here’s why:
- Cavities don’t stop after high school.
- Molars are still chewing all day, nuts, chips, sticky sweets, you name it.
- If gums recede (and they usually do with age), more of the tooth is exposed. Extra protection matters.
- In Oxnard, we see plenty of acid wear from citrus, seafood, and wine. Add sugar and sports drinks on top, that’s a recipe for enamel breakdown.
Sealants help slow that down. No magic, just prevention.
How Long They Last
Here’s the part people like: dental sealants usually last five to ten years. Sometimes longer, sometimes less. Grinding your teeth? They’ll wear faster. Eating hard, crunchy snacks? Same story.
But here’s the thing, they can be reapplied. Quick and simple. At Puri Dentistry, we check sealants during every cleaning. If one’s chipped or thin, we just add more.
What It’s Like Getting Them
No needles. No drilling. No pain. Really.
The tooth is cleaned, dried, a bonding gel is put on, and then the liquid sealant is brushed over. A special light hardens it. Done. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes. You walk out ready to eat.
The Money Side
Okay, let’s talk about cost. Insurance often pays for teens’ sealants, but not always for adults. That throws people off.
Here’s why some still choose it anyway: the out-of-pocket cost is usually much less than one filling. Skip the sealant, get a cavity later, and suddenly you’re looking at a filling or crown bill. For a lot of patients here in Oxnard, the math adds up fast.
At Puri Dentistry, we lay out clearly what insurance covers, what’s out of pocket, so you can decide without surprises.
Who Should Think About It
Sealants aren’t for everyone. If you already have a big filling or crown on a tooth, there’s nothing left to seal. They also don’t “fix” a cavity; they only prevent them.
But if your molars are healthy, with deep grooves, and you’ve had cavities before? You’re a good candidate.
We’ve had adults come in who thought they were cavity-free for life. Two cleanings later, they’ve got new decay starting. Sealants would’ve helped.
Daily Care Still Wins
One thing to be clear about: sealants aren’t a free pass. You still need to brush twice a day, floss, and keep up with cleanings. Sealants are backup, not the whole defense.
Think of it like sunscreen. Wear it, yes, but you still avoid hours of direct sun when you can.
Bottom Line
Sealants aren’t just for teens. For adults in Oxnard, they’re an affordable way to lower your cavity risk, especially on molars. They don’t last forever, but they last long enough to save you time, money, and drilling later.
At Puri Dentistry, we’ve seen the difference. Patients with dental sealants often go years without cavities in their sealed teeth. Patients without them? More fillings. Simple as that.
So if you’ve been wondering, “Is it worth it for me?”, the answer is probably yes.
