Evaluation of a sealant intervention program among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren

Abstract

Background/purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries prevention effect of pit-and-fissure sealant application on permanent first molars among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren. Materials and methods: This study included 270 aboriginal school children aged 6–9 years in Southern Taiwan. They were separated into sealant and control groups with follow-up for 1 year. The sealant group (n = 122) received fissure sealants on healthy, fully erupted first permanent molars; the control group (n = 148) received an oral examination with no sealant application. Every 6 months, both groups received an oral examination with flashlights, hand-held mirrors, and explorers. Data were analyzed by a Chi-square test, t test, and multiple logistic regression. Results: After 1 year, 14 of the 229 first molars treated with sealants were carious and 60 of the 258 molars in the control group were carious. Sealant application was significantly associated (P < 0.0001) with prevention of tooth decay. The caries rate of the control group was approximately 4-fold higher than that of the sealant group. Conclusion: The application of pit-and-fissure sealants was 94.54% effective in preventing caries on newly erupted permanent molars among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren. Complete sealant failure demonstrated a high risk for caries, and such teeth should immediately be resealed.

Keywords

• aboriginal children
• dental health
• pit-and-fissure sealant
• sealant retention