Neonatal health factors were found to be important risk factors for the occurrence of enamel defects in first permanent molars. The effects of residential location and the association between deciduous tooth caries experience and enamel defects require further investigations.

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Fissure sealing using partially filled resins is an established caries preventive practice. Glass ionomer cement (GIC) sealants may offer additional advantages due to their ability to bond chemically to enamel and release fluoride. The aim of this study was to compare the caries preventive effect and retention of a GIC and a resin‐based sealant. Ketac‐fil® was tested against a chemically cured resin‐based material (Delton®) using a split mouth design. Perth (Western Australia) schoolchildren (n= 465), mean age 7 yr±0.72 (S.D.), received sealants on the occlusal surfaces of sound homologous permanent first molar pairs. Test (GIC) and control (resin) sealants were systematically allocated to left and right sides based on the child's month of birth, and were placed by dental therapists. After 3.64±0.11 yr, 415 children were examined by different clinicians, and the clinical status of the teeth and the extent of sealant retention recorded. Sealants were deemed retained when at least 2/3 of the fissure pattern was still sealed. In 252 tooth pairs, neither sealant was retained to this extent. In 71 pairs, the GIC was not retained and the resin sealant retained. In 40 pairs the reverse occurred (McNemar's test, χ2= 8.66, P < 0.005). Net gain (additional lesions prevented by the test agent per 100 treatments) was 6.1%(95% CI 3.3%, 8.9%). Effectiveness of the GIC was 80.6% (95% CI 59.6%, 90.7%). The relative risk of caries in test teeth was 0.19 (95% CI 0.09, 0.40). The study suggests that complete retention of GIC sealant is not necessary for caries prevention in newly erupted permanent first molars.

Background: Articaine administered through buccal infiltration (BI) has been suggested as providing adequate posterior mandibular analgesia. This study compared the efficacy of articaine 4% with 1:100 000 adrenaline (test) and lignocaine 2% with 1:80 000 adrenaline (control), delivered either through an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) or BI for routine restorative procedures in mandibular posterior teeth among children. Methods: Children enrolled within the Western Australian School Dental Service and in need of restorative care on contralateral mandibular posterior teeth were eligible. Consenting children were randomly allocated to test and control techniques, and to type of local anaesthetic. Using the faces pain scale, pain reports from analgesia administration and from dental treatment were elicited. Analgesia success and pain reports were compared by anaesthetic technique and type. Results: Fifty-seven children were recruited into the study; 29 allocated to IANB. Analgesia success for IANB 100%; BI 67%; p < 0.001. Analgesia success for BI with articaine 71%; lignocaine 64%, p > 0.05. Analgesia success was associated with fewer reports of painful dental treatment, p = 0.005. Conclusions: There was higher success and less painful treatment with IANB. There was no statistically significant difference in local analgesia success between articaine and lignocaine when delivered via BI.