Retention and maintenance of fissure sealants over 10 years

Abstract

The long-term efficacy (retention and caries prevention) of fissure sealants is well documented. However, the effectiveness of contemporary sealants under sometimes less than ideal field conditions is not so well reported, nor are the clinical issues of the long-term extent of partial sealant loss, resealing needs and sealant replacement under such conditions. The results of a 10-year follow-up of 8,340 chemically-cured sealants placed between 1978 and 1985 in selected "high-risk", first permanent molars of children of moderate to severe decay susceptibility are presented. These children were annual participants in the Prince Edward Island Children's Dental Care Program. Complete sealant retention was 89 per cent after one year and 60 per cent after 7-9 years. One year after insertion, 6 per cent of sealants required maintenance resealing; thereafter it was 2 per cent to 4 per cent per year. Sealant removals because of MO amalgam placement or occlusal decay were very low, about 2 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively, in each of the first five years. The overall annual sealant success of 96 per cent after one year and 85 per cent after 8-10 years supports the careful application of chemically-cured sealants under field conditions and the use of annual recalls to allow minimal sealant maintenance.