title: Modern thoughts on fissure sealants.
abstract: It has long been known that fissure sealants are an important part of the prevention and control of dental caries in pits and fissures. However, their usage is still sporadic and generally not related to evidence-based guidelines. Caries prevalence has changed since sealants were introduced and this has significant implications for the criteria on which to select patients who would most benefit from their usage. The clinical technique for successful fissure sealant application is very moisture and operator sensitive. However, there is accumulating evidence that use of fissure sealants can be extended, given suitable investigation, to the early carious lesion as a 'preventive resin restoration'.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham Dental School, St Chads Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides