A clinical comparison of sealant and amalgam in the treatment of pits and fissures. 2. Clinical application and maintenance during an 18-month period.

The results obtained after 18 months of clinical study, compa~ng sealant apph’cation for the prevention of caries with amalgam restorations on the pit and tissure surfaces of permanent molars, are analyzed to document the maintenance required for optimum success with both modes of treatment. An accurate summary of operating time used to accomplish each treatment is presented and various aspects of treatment failure are illustrated. The cumulative mean time required to place and maintain the amalgam was 13 min:58 sec, whereas the cumulative time invested in the sealant treatment was 8 min:45 sec. The data support application of pit and lqssure sealant as a treatment wittdn the specitic limitations of a controlled preventive program and professional supervision.