title: Arrest of non-cavitated dentinal occlusal caries by sealing pits and fissures: a 36-month, randomised controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the progression of sealed non-cavitated dentinal occlusal caries in a randomised controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty teeth with non-cavitated dentinal occlusal caries were selected in patients with a high risk for caries. Patients were randomly divided into two groups so that each group included 30 teeth. Patients in the experiment group were given oral hygiene instructions and a fissure sealant. Patients in the control group were given oral hygiene instructions only. Caries progression and sealant loss were monitored over a period of 36 months by clinical and radiographic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiographic progression of caries was significantly more frequent in the control group than in the experiment group. Three teeth lost their sealant and showed caries progression, but this was apparent only at the 12-month follow-up. At the 24- and 36-month recall appointments, neither sealant loss nor caries progression were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pit and fissure sealant utilised in this study was shown to be effective in arresting carious lesions at 36 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. boniek.castillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Boniek Castillo Dutra
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Souza Borges
authors.forename: Rodivan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braz
authors.forename: Marcos Antônio Japiassú Resende
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Isauremi Vieira
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: de Assunção Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003804:Dentin; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants