Research:

Article 1: Ahovuo-saloranta A. Pit and Fissure Sealants for Preventing Dental Decay in the permanent
teeth of children and adolescents. Cochrane Oral Health Group. 15 April 2009. DOI:10.1002
- Type of Study:
o Systematic Review of 16 independent studies
- Purpose:
o To evaluate the caries prevention in pit and fissure sealants in children and adolescents.
- Conclusion:
o Placing sealants in at-risk pits and fissures of molars and premolars is highly effective at
preventing the development of occlusal caries.
o study in particular compared sealants to no sealants and continued follow up for 9
years after the treatment. This study found significantly more caries in the control
group with no sealants placed compared to the resin-based sealant group. They found
that only 27% of the sealed surfaces were decayed compared to 77% of the surfaces
without caries.

Article 2: Beauchamp, J, et. al. "Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-
fissure sealants: a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs." J Am Dent
Assoc. 2008. 139.3: 257-68. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.
- Type of Study:
o Systematic Review of RCTs
- Purpose:
o To examine if sealants reduce caries (non-cavitated) in children, adolescents, and young
adults
- Conclusion:
o Sealants are effective at reduces caries (non-cavitated) in this group
o Based on evidence, panel made these conclusions:
o Sealants should be placed on pits and fissures of childrens and adolescents
permanent teeth when it is determined that the tooth, or the patient, is at high risk for
developing caries.
o Pit-and-fissure sealants should be placed on early (noncavitated) carious lesions, in
children, adolescents, and young adults to reduce the percentage of lesions that
progress.
o CAN PLACE OVER NON-CAVITATED LESIONS bacteria does NOT increase

FIND RESEARCH SHOWING ITS OKAY TO SEAL CARIES







What they are
- Dental sealants are a physical barrier that inhibits food particles from collecting in pits and
fissures and or reaching microorganisms already present in the fissure system. They are placed
either to prevent the development of a caries lesion in an at risk surface, or arrest an existing
lesion.


Only ~ 40% of general dentists and pediatric dentists would use a sealant to treat an NCCL in a
molar of a young patient
When instructed to assume that a radiograph of the tooth showed no evidence of caries
extending into dentin of a molar, ~20-30% of general dentists and pediatric dentists opted to
open the fissure and place a small resin-based restoration.
Tellez et al., JADA 2011






Indications / Contraindications
- We recommend that children who are at-risk ages 4-12 are given sealants to prevent the
development and/or progression of caries.
- As permanent teeth erupt, pits and fissures of permanent teeth in at-risk children should be
sealed


No Caries Lesions (ICDAS 0) or
Questionable Non-Cavitated
Caries Lesions in Fissure
Caries
Risk?
Sealant
Active Non-cavitated Caries
Lesions (ICDAS1 -2)
No Treatment
At risk
Low