title: Long-term performance of resin based fissure sealants placed in a general dental practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term performance of resin based fissure sealants applied in a general dental practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regularly attending patients visiting the practice between July 2006 until November 2007 and who had received sealants before 1st of January 2000 were included in the study. Date of placement of a sealant in posterior non-discoloured permanent teeth and replacement by a restoration was recorded. In a clinical examination occlusal surfaces were scored for (partial) sealant loss and fissure discolouration. The restoration profile of the patient was assessed as low or high, based on the number of restorations placed per year since the first sealant. Sealants had been applied by four dentists and a dental hygienist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1204 sealants were placed in 148 patients. After a mean follow-up time of 11.6 years, 41.3% of placed sealants were still fully retained and 11.4% were replaced by a restoration. Failure rates were significantly higher in high than in low restoration profile patients and in molars compared to premolars. In those fissures with lost or partially lost sealants, discolouration frequently occurred (40% of all surfaces) irrespective of restoration profile of the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this retrospective practice based study, long-term performance of sealants depended on restoration profile of the individual patient and the tooth type (molar versus premolar).
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.hevinga@dent.umcn.nl
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hevinga
authors.forename: N J M
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Opdam
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bronkhorst
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Truin
authors.forename: M C D N J M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huysmans
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013499:Surface Properties; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants