No evidence to support use of glass ionomer as a fissure sealant in primary molars : In pre-school children at high risk of developing dental caries can glass ionomer fissure sealant placed on primary molars decrease the incidence of dental caries?

Abstract

Design Randomised controlled trial in primary care setting. Intervention508 children aged 18–30 months from high caries areas of South Wales with caries-free first primary molars were recruited to the trial after informed consent. All children (n=508) received a standard package of dental health education. Children in the test group (n=241) had their first primary molars sealed with glass ionomer. All the children were re-examined once at varying intervals between 12 and 30 months. Outcome measure Decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) and presence of glass ionomer sealant. Results Analysis of the caries data revealed no significant difference between test and control groups for any of the parameters examined. Examination of the confidence intervals showed no indication that there might be a difference even if the sample size had been increased. ConclusionsThere is no evidence that the intervention as used in this population had any effect on caries incidence and it cannot be recommended as a clinical procedure.