Comparison of the effectiveness of fissure sealants in Finland, Sweden, and Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of sealant treatment in preventing dental restorations due to caries in a practice-based research network in Finland, Sweden, and Greece.


METHODS
Times of tooth emergence, sealing treatment, and dental caries were compiled from the dental charts of 4735 subjects born in 1970-72 in Finland and in 1980-82 in Finland, Sweden, and Greece. Survival time between tooth emergence and placement of first restoration was measured and estimated using survival analysis methodology.


RESULTS
At the end of follow-up (7-10+ years), 30-40% of sealed molars and 60-80% of non-sealed molars were restored. Early sealant placement compared to late sealing did not result in significantly higher survival of 1st molars. The strategy of sealing the 1st molars only in high caries risk subjects was as effective as sealing all the molars and premolars routinely without caries risk determination.


CONCLUSIONS
The sealing of all molar fissures proved to be no more effective than sealing risk fissures of subjects. Early sealing did not result in any better outcome than late sealing. The effectiveness of sealant treatment in preventing dental restorations is dependent on the caries risk of individuals and caries prevalence of the country.
Leskinen
Kaja
K
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Cariology and Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. kaja.leskinen@oulu.fi
Ekman
Agneta
A
Oulis
Constantine
C
Forsberg
Hans
H
Vadiakas
George
G
Larmas
Markku
M
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018865:Dental Research / Q000379:methods; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants