Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate and caries preventive effect of Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) fissure sealants in primary teeth in young Minsk children with high caries risk.
Methods: The study was conducted in the university dental school. Regional Ethics Committee approval and parental informed consents were obtained. 83 children aged 1.5-2 years with any signs of dental caries who were referred to the dental clinic were examined by a trained dentist to assess dental status by d1-4mft index and oral hygiene status by the Ribeiro index (1999). After oral examination the children were randomly divided into two groups: preventive or test (n=40) and control (n=43). In the preventive (test) group 67 primary molars were sealed with GIC. In the control group there were 77 primary molars without any sign of dental caries. In both groups children brushed with fluoride dentifrice at home. The dynamics of caries status in children and sealant retention was evaluated in a 3-year follow-up survey. The results were analyzed statistically (Mann-Whitney U-test, Odds ratio and 95% confident intervals (CI), p-value).
Results: There were no statistically significant proportional differences regarding age (19.7 and 20.6 months; p=0.81), mean number of erupted teeth (16.6 and 15.5; p=0.47), mean d1-4mft value (5.8 (2.1) and 6.0 (2.5); p=0.72) and oral hygiene status (3.6 (1.0) and 3.5 (1.1); p=0.86) between the preventive and control groups. After one year the sealants was retained in 42 (62.7%, CI 56.8-68.6) molars. The mean length of sealant retention was 12.5 (5.3) months. After 3 years carious lesions of occlusal surfaces only were included in the diagnosis. There were no differences in ages, mean number of erupted teeth or oral hygiene between groups. In the preventive (test) group carious lesions were diagnosed in 13 (19.4%, 14.6-24.2) molars. In the control group there were 32 (41.6%. 36.0-47.2) decayed teeth. Clinical efficacy of fissure sealants was 59.4%, OR=2.7 (1.3-5.8).
Conclusion: Fissure sealing with GIC is an effective preventive measure in young children with high caries risk.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.