Exploring four-handed delivery and retention of resin-based sealants.
BACKGROUND
To date, no trials have been published that examine whether four-handed delivery of dental sealants increases their retention and effectiveness. In the absence of comparative studies, the authors used available data to explore the likelihood that four-handed delivery increased sealant retention.


METHODS
The authors examined data regarding the retention of autopolymerized resin-based sealants from studies included in systematic reviews of sealant effectiveness. The explanatory variable of primary interest was the presence of a second operator. To examine the unique contribution of four-handed delivery to sealant retention, the authors used linear regression models.


RESULTS
Eleven of the 36 studies from systematic reviews met explicit criteria and were included in this analysis. The high level of heterogeneity among studies suggested that multivariate analysis was the correct approach. According to the regression model, the presence of a second operator increased retention by 9 percentage points.


CONCLUSIONS
For this group of studies, four-handed delivery of autopolymerized sealants was associated with increased sealant retention.


CONCLUSIONS
Using four-handed delivery to place resin-based sealants may increase retention.
Griffin
Susan O
SO
Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA 30341, USA. sig1@cdc.gov
Jones
Kari
K
Gray
Shellie Kolavic
SK
Malvitz
Dolores M
DM
Gooch
Barbara F
BF
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001840:Dental Bonding; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D019279:Resin Cements
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D019279:Resin Cements