Effects of glass ionomer sealants in newly erupted first molars after 5 years: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate the caries-preventive effect of high-filled glass ionomer sealant in newly erupted first molars in a high-risk group. This investigation is part of a larger study amongst eight hundred and thirty-five 6-7-year-old Syrian children. METHODS Children that had 1, 2 or 3 just erupted or erupting and at least one unerupted first molar (control) were enrolled in this pilot study. A total of 60 children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 49 children with a total of 83 sealants available for examination at the evaluation year 5. RESULTS Almost two out of the three sealants (69%) had disappeared between evaluation years 2 and 3. 1.2% (SE = 1.2) of the sealants survived were fully retained and 10.3% (SE = 3.3) of the sealants survived were fully and partially retained at the evaluation year 5. Caries prevalence of the children in the study group at the evaluation year 5 was 55%. The Odds ratio concerning sealed and control group at year 5 was 2.6 with 95% confidence limits of 1.2 and 5.7, implying a relative risk (RR) of 2.1. Unsealed unerupted first molars had 2.1 times higher chance than sealed newly erupted first molars to develop dentinal lesions in this child population after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that sealing newly erupted first molars with high-filled glass ionomer may be a caries-preventive measure in high-risk children. However, a well-designed clinical trial should be implemented to confirm the initial findings.