2-YEAR CLINICAL-PERFORMANCE OF A FLUORIDE-CONTAINING FISSURE SEALANT IN YOUNG SCHOOLCHILDREN AT CARIES RISK

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical performance of Helioseal-F, a fluori de-containing fissure sealant, in school children at caries risk. Mate rials and Methods: A caries risk assessment based on past caries exper ience, saliva microbial tests, buffer capacity and frequency of sugar intake was carried out in 204 healthy children, 6-7 years of age. Chil dren exhibiting one or more risk factors were considered at caries ris k (n=121) and their permanent molars were sealed with a fluoride-conta ining fissure sealant, thus forming a fissure sealant group (FSG). The remaining 83 children with low caries risk received no fissure sealan ts and constituted a reference group (RG). Both groups were followed f or 2 years. From 15 children of both groups, unstimulated whole saliva was collected 1 month after sealant placement in order to determine f luoride levels. In another 20 children, a split-mouth study design was utilized to compare the colonization of mutans streptococci adjacent to and on F-containing sealants and conventional controls. The sealant s were placed by dental hygienists according to the manufacturers' ins tructions. Results: A total of 431 fissure sealants were placed at bas eline. Complete retention was found in 76.6% during the study period w hile 22.0% were partially lost. Six sealants (1.4%) were completely lo st. The enamel caries incidence was 45% lower (P < 0.05) in the perman ent molars of the caries risk FSG compared with the low risk RG. There was no significant increase in saliva fluoride concentration followin g placement of the sealants and the proportion of mutans streptococci in relation to total viable counts was unaffected by type of material. The levels of salivary mutans streptococci were mainly unchanged in b oth groups during the study period, while the levels of salivary lacto bacilli decreased in the FSG.