[Effectiveness of fissure sealants in child population at high risk of caries].
OBJECTIVE
To asses the effectiveness of fissure sealants in a high risk infant population and to evaluate the criteria to determine when to apply them.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Primary care.


METHODS
607 scholars that are included at the age of 6 years and followed for 4,5 years.Intervention. We have defined three groups. Groups I and II were included in a dental preventive program with and without fissure sealants in the first permanent molars, respectively, and group III received no preventive measures at all.


METHODS
The dental explorations according to WHO recommendations were conducted before entering the study, at the age of six years, after the fissure sealant were applied, at the age of eight years and finally 4.5 years after the beginning.


RESULTS
After 4.5 years group I had a CAOD index of 0.59, group II 0.79 and group III 1.52 (P<.001). Group III has 2.57 times greater risk the group I of suffering caries in the permanent teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of occlusive fissure sealant in the first permanent molar of an infant high risk population has a protective effect on dental caries. Therefore occlusive fissure sealant should be offered to all scholars because those without neither the preventive program nor occlusive fissure sealant had a significantly higher risk of caries.
Tapias Ledesma
M A
MA
Médico estomatólogo, Centro de Salud San Fernando, Móstoles (Madrid), Spain. mtapiasl@infomed.es
Jiménez-García
R
R
Lamas
F
F
Gil De Miguel
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants