title: Acceptability of fissure sealants from the child's perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To seek children's opinions about the acceptability of resin fissure sealant placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Service evaluation using a child-centred questionnaire issued to a prospective sample of consecutive hospital patients.Method Questionnaires were issued to children, aged 3 to 16 years, immediately after resin fissure sealant placement in the Paediatric Dentistry Department in Sheffield. Participants used a three-point faces scale for positive, neutral and negative responses, arranged as a Likert scale with minimal text, to rate their treatment experiences and satisfaction with the dental visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred questionnaires were returned. Overall, 96% (n = 191) recorded a positive or neutral response for the ease at which they coped with the procedure, with most children positive about having fissure sealants placed again (66%; n = 132). Further analysis demonstrated that children who had fissure sealants on a previous occasion found them easier than those having them for the first time (p <0.05, chi-squared test). Almost half of all participants where ambivalent about the taste and feeling (46%; n = 92 and 55%; n = 110 respectively). The vast majority of children were satisfied with the explanations provided by their operator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most participants found having resin fissure sealants placed an overall acceptable procedure, with patient acceptance improving with increased treatment experience.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Wellesley Road, Sheffield, S10 2SZ.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Speciality Registrar in Orthodontics, Royal London Dental Hospital, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Madahar
authors.affiliation: Professor/Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Wellesley Road, Sheffield, S10 2SZ.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants