Clinical evaluation of glass ionomers used as fissure sealants: twenty-four-month results

Abstract

This study evaluated the twenty-four-month retention and effectiveness in dental caries prevention, of Vitremer and Ketac-Bond glass ionomers used as occlusal sealants. The initial sample consisted of 200 school children ages six to eight years whose permanent first molars were sound. The children were divided into two experimental groups (group 1 Vitremer; group 2 Ketac-Bond) and a control group (group 3 unsealed molars). Statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney test) revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the retention levels of the experimental groups A and B in the three evaluation periods (six-, twelve- and twenty-four-month) with Vitremer showing superior results. As to caries incidence, there was a statistically significant difference (chi 2 test) between the experimental groups (A and B) and the control group indicating that glass ionomers are effective for prevention of caries in the occlusal surfaces. Two independent variables were correlated with the presence of caries or that of a restored tooth after twenty-four months (odds ratio) revealing that children who presented white spots (WS) had a probability of presenting caries or restorations that was 5.0, 3.07 and 1.93 times greater at six, twelve, and twenty-four months, respectively than that of children who did not show WS in the experimental groups A and B and in the control group, respectively. The variable represented by the "dmf" index showed a statistically significant correlation (chi 2 test) in the control group, in which there was a 3.26 times greater probability of children presenting a "dmf" index equal to or greater than 1 in the development of caries or who presented a restored tooth in relation to those who did not have a history of caries ("dmf" = 0).