Long-term evaluation of a fissure sealing programme in Public Dental Service clinics in Sweden

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results of a sys tematic fissure sealing programme of the occlusal surfaces of newly erupted permanent first molars. All 15-year-olds (n=815) who had been regularly tr eated at seven Public Dental Service clinics in Jonkoping County, Sweden, s ince the eruption of their permanent first molars participated in the study . Data on fissure sealing and restorative treatment were extracted from the dental records of the patients. When the patients were 15 years of age, it was found that 6% of the original 2456 sealed occlusal permanent first mol ars had received Class lr restorations. Seventy-eight per cent of the remai ning 2322 sealed occlusal surfaces were judged to be caries-free by the chi ld's ordinary dentist. This long-term retrospective study indicates that a structured fissure sealing programme is of great benefit for oral health.