Effectiveness of sealants treatment in permanent molars: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Our study gives a clear result about sealants treatment in preventing dental caries manifestation and reducing its prevalence in children aged 6–11 years old. Aim and objective: This study aims to compare and evaluate the progress of dental caries in the first and second permanent molars and also to evaluate, within a period of 24 months, the clinical effects of dental sealants, used in the treatment of occlusive cavities, among children 6–11 years old. Materials and methods: Participants: The overall sample was composed of 120 children, to whom we randomly chose 480 posterior teeth, which were divided into two groups. Intervention: The first group was the control group with 240 untreated teeth, while the second group had an equal number of teeth, which underwent the sealant treatment. The study participants were evaluated within the periods 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The study participants were checked every 6 months. Basic design: This observational, analytical, and descriptive research was designed as a longitudinal study. The study started in January 2019 and ended in January 2020. The study was conducted in five dental clinics in the city of Vlore, Albania. Results: After 24 months of observation, we noticed that the number of dental caries in the untreated group is three times higher than the number of dental caries in the treated group. In the group of teeth treated with sealant, 189 (78.8%) teeth remained unaffected by dental caries. The present study showed that there is a significant correlation between period and caries manifestation (p < 0.05). It also proved that sealant treatment is an important measure and it is highly significant in the caries reduction (p = 0.000). Conclusion: This study proved that sealant treatment is highly successful in reducing dental caries. In the future, it is worthwhile to go further in this research. Clinical significance: Dental caries is a problem in children aged 6–11 years old and not only. That is why this study recommends that sealants treatment should be used to prevent and reduce the prevalence of dental caries.