[The cost-effectiveness of ART and resin sealant on caries prevention].
OBJECTIVE
Pit and fissure sealants have been widely used to caries prevention. More often, ART is used in caries treatment. ART was used to prevent caries in recent years. However,the cost-effectiveness of ART that is used to caries prevention still remains unclear. The aim of the present research was to compare the cost-effectiveness of ART with that of resin sealant in caries prevention for primary school children.


METHODS
Two hundred and twelve children aged 7 to 9 years old took part in this research. The molar of every child on one side of the mouth was sealed by light-cure resin sealant(Concise,3M) and by chemically firmed glass ionomer (Ketac-molar, ESPE) on the opposite side. The routine methods were used to seal teeth and the cotton rolls and suction were used to keep dry. The time for manipulation,amount of materials and times for repetition in the program were recorded. The retained rate of sealed material on the teeth was checked month after treatment.


RESULTS
The results indicated the time for manipulation,cotton rolls and times for repetition in sealant was respectively 3.54 (min.), 2.52 and 0.04 (times) in sealant and 3.18 (min.),1.13 and 0.03 (times) in ART. The material of ART was more expensive than of resin sealant. Respectively,the costs of glass ionomer and resin sealant were 3.77 and 0.93(Yuan). However, the cost of equipment used in sealant were much more expensive than that used in ART. Furthermore, there was no significantly difference between sealant and ART in the remaining rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that ART is more cost-effective than sealant on caries prevention.
School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Hui-zhen
HZ
Cao
Xi-ping
XP
Feng
E C M
EC
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