December 2008

Volume 25, Issue 4

Retention and effectiveness of fissure sealants in Kuwaiti school children

Authors: R. Francis A.K. Mascarenhas P. Soparkar S.A. Al-Mutawaa
doi: 10.1922/CDH_2168Mascarenhas05

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the retention and effectiveness of fissure sealants in permanent first molars in a public programme. Methods Sealant retention in permanent first molars was evaluated in 452 children aged 6-8 years in 20 primary schools under the care of the School Oral Health Programme, Kuwait-Forsyth. The sealants were placed using rubber dam or cotton roll isolation, after cleaning with pumice and rubber cup, and 15 seconds etching. Sealant retention was evaluated at one and two years and scored as complete, partial or complete loss of sealant. Caries was scored when sealant was partially or completely lost. Results A total of 2,744 sealants were applied, with 2,324 and 2,288 sealants examined at the end of the first and second year respectively. In two years, 75% of the sealants were completely retained, 2.9% partially lost, 7.3% completely lost, and 14.8% resealed or restored. A small proportion of teeth (0.9%) were carious. Multivariate analyses showed that occlusal surfaces were 2.8 times more likely to retain a sealant than the buccal and palatal pits (95% CI 2.7-3.9, p<0.0001), and maxillary teeth were 1.3 times more likely to retain their sealant than the mandibular teeth (95% CI 1.01-1.5, p=0.04). Maxillary teeth were less likely to be carious (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.97), p=0.03) and occlusal surfaces were 2.8 times more likely to be carious (95% CI 1.9-4.3), p<0.0001). No differences in sealant retention (p=0.24) and caries (p=0.19) were seen between teeth isolated using rubberdam or cotton roll. Conclusions Sealant retention was high, and sealants were effective in preventing caries. Key words: Effectiveness, Kuwait, retention, school programmes, sealants

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - The statistical legacy of William Sealy Gosset (“Student”) 194-195 Download
Effect of tooth loss and denture status on oral health-related quality of life of older individuals from Sri Lanka 196-200 Download
The distribution of general dental practitioners with NHS contract numbers in relation to the distance of their practices from the seven dental undergraduate teaching hospitals in England outside London 201-204 Download
Evaluation of oral health-related quality of life questionnaires in a general child population 205-210 Download
Retention and effectiveness of fissure sealants in Kuwaiti school children 211-215 Download
Loss of sealant retention and subsequent caries development. 216-220 Download
Oral health and treatment needs among 15-year-olds in Tehran, Iran 221-225 Download
The frequency of periodontal infrabony defects on panoramic radiographs of an adult population seeking dental care 226-230 Download
Oral health problems and needs in nursing home residents in Northern Italy 231-236 Download
Caries prevalence and need for dental care in 13–18-year-olds in the Municipality of Milan, Italy. 237-242 Download
Number of teeth and serum lipid peroxide in 85-year-olds 243-247 Download
Access to dental services for people with a physical disability: a survey of general dental practitioners in Leicestershire, UK 248-252 Download
Short Communication - Risk indicators of dental caries in 5-year-old Brazilian children 253-256 Download

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