Effect of Fluoridated Sealants on Adjacent Tooth Surfaces: A 30-mo Randomized Clinical Trial

M G Cagetti, G Carta, F Cocco, S Sale, G Congiu, A Mura, L Strohmenger, P Lingström, G Campus, Italian Experimental Group on Oral Health, M Bossù, G Campus, M G Cagetti, G P Caria, G Carta, F Cocco, G Congiu, G Conti, D Corridone, P Lingström, S Mastroberardino, A Mura, A Polimeni, S Sale, G Sanna, L Strohmenger, M G Cagetti, G Carta, F Cocco, S Sale, G Congiu, A Mura, L Strohmenger, P Lingström, G Campus, Italian Experimental Group on Oral Health, M Bossù, G Campus, M G Cagetti, G P Caria, G Carta, F Cocco, G Congiu, G Conti, D Corridone, P Lingström, S Mastroberardino, A Mura, A Polimeni, S Sale, G Sanna, L Strohmenger

Abstract

A double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed in 6- to 7-yr-old schoolchildren to evaluate, in a 30-mo period, whether the caries increment on the distal surface of the second primary molars adjacent to permanent first molars sealed with fluoride release compounds would be lower with respect to those adjacent to permanent first molars sealed with a nonfluoridated sealant. In sum, 2,776 subjects were enrolled and randomly divided into 3 groups receiving sealants on sound first molars: high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (GIC group); resin-based sealant with fluoride (fluoride-RB group); and a resin-based sealant without fluoride (RB group). Caries (D1 - D3 level) was recorded on the distal surface of the second primary molar, considered the unit of analysis including only sound surfaces at the baseline. At baseline, no differences in caries prevalence were recorded in the 3 groups regarding the considered surfaces. At follow-up, the prevalence of an affected unit of analysis was statistically lower (p = .03) in the GIC and fluoride-RB groups (p = .04). In the GIC group, fewer new caries were observed in the unit of analysis respect to the other 2 groups. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.86; p < .01) for GIC vs. RB and 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.67, 0.89; p = .005) for fluoride-RB vs. RB [Corrected]. Caries incidence was significantly associated with low socioeconomic status (IRR = 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.42; p = .05). Dental sealant high-viscosity GIC and fluoride-RB demonstrated protection against dental caries, and there was evidence that these materials afforded additional protection for the tooth nearest to the sealed tooth (clinical trial registration NCT01588210).

Keywords: community dentistry; dental caries; fluorides; pit and fissure sealants; primary prevention; primary teeth.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

© International & American Associations for Dental Research.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
CONSORT flowchart of the study.

Source: PubMed

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