Questions about sealants often flood my inbox. So much so, I wrote an entire article on them for @askthedentist ...just search 'Ask the Dentist-Sealants.' I often advise them in my office, as we do find deep grooves in back permanent molars to be an extremely common place for cavities. I myself had cavities fixed around age 7 in my grooves of my first molars, but then sealants became hot 🔥 (1980's) and by the time my second molars came in they were sealed and I have been cavity-free since! All without fluoridated water or supplements...we can take that topic for another time. 😉 My concern, however, is when they are considered just a quick add-on procedure to generate more production for the day, which I have observed at several offices I worked at in the past. Auxiliary team members quickly place them, isolation is mediocre, and then there is little attention to checking for rough margins or doing a final polish or occlusion check. I also have seen offices where sealants are not checked by a doctor first, opening the potential of sealing decay and bacteria underneath. I am cautious with many of the materials people are using out there...so ask questions before you agree to the procedure. It's OK to ask questions, parents! ❤️ It isn't uncommon to find significant decay hiding underneath a poorly placed sealant. So take your time understanding the procedure and feeling comfortable with the protocols of your office. I personally make sure we are using advanced cavity detection devices/lasers, ozone, and ceramic-based materials for sealants in my patients. Check out that article I wrote and let me know if you still have Q's below 👇 ❤️Doctor Staci PMID: 28759120 https://askthedentist.com/dental-sealants/