Evaluation of a sealant intervention program among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren

Background/purposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries prevention effect of pit-and-fissure sealant application on permanent first molars among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren.Materials and methodsThis study included 270 aboriginal school children aged 6–9 years in Southern Taiwan. They were separated into sealant and control groups with follow-up for 1 year. The sealant group (n = 122) received fissure sealants on healthy, fully erupted first permanent molars; the control group (n = 148) received an oral examination with no sealant application. Every 6 months, both groups received an oral examination with flashlights, hand-held mirrors, and explorers. Data were analyzed by a Chi-square test, t test, and multiple logistic regression.ResultsAfter 1 year, 14 of the 229 first molars treated with sealants were carious and 60 of the 258 molars in the control group were carious. Sealant application was significantly associated (P < 0.0001) with prevention of tooth decay. The caries rate of the control group was approximately 4-fold higher than that of the sealant group.ConclusionThe application of pit-and-fissure sealants was 94.54% effective in preventing caries on newly erupted permanent molars among Taiwanese aboriginal schoolchildren. Complete sealant failure demonstrated a high risk for caries, and such teeth should immediately be resealed.