Premium
Effects of glass ionomer sealants in newly erupted first molars after 5 years: a pilot study
Author(s) -
Taifour Dia,
Frencken Jo E.,
Van′t Hof Martin A.,
Beiruti Nabil,
Truin GertJan
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2003.00039.x
Subject(s) - medicine , molar , sealant , dentistry , glass ionomer cement , odds ratio , confidence interval , population , relative risk , environmental health , chemistry , organic chemistry , pathology
– Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the caries‐preventive effect of high‐filled glass ionomer sealant in newly erupted first molars in a high‐risk group. This investigation is part of a larger study amongst eight hundred and thirty‐five 6–7‐year‐old Syrian children. Methods: Children that had 1, 2 or 3 just erupted or erupting and at least one unerupted first molar (control) were enrolled in this pilot study. A total of 60 children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 49 children with a total of 83 sealants available for examination at the evaluation year 5. Results: Almost two out of the three sealants (69%) had disappeared between evaluation years 2 and 3. 1.2% (SE = 1.2) of the sealants survived were fully retained and 10.3% (SE = 3.3) of the sealants survived were fully and partially retained at the evaluation year 5. Caries prevalence of the children in the study group at the evaluation year 5 was 55%. The Odds ratio concerning sealed and control group at year 5 was 2.6 with 95% confidence limits of 1.2 and 5.7, implying a relative risk (RR) of 2.1. Unsealed unerupted first molars had 2.1 times higher chance than sealed newly erupted first molars to develop dentinal lesions in this child population after 5 years. Conclusions: It is concluded that sealing newly erupted first molars with high‐filled glass ionomer may be a caries‐preventive measure in high‐risk children. However, a well‐designed clinical trial should be implemented to confirm the initial findings.