Retention Loss of Resin Based Fissure Sealants - a Valid Predictor for Clinical Outcome?

Abstract

Abstract:Purpose: The null-hypothesis that retention loss of resin fissure sealants predicts caries manifestation no more accurately than random values was tested.Methods: Systematic reviews were checked and electronic databases searched for clinical trials. Trials reporting on the retention of resin sealants and caries occurrence in permanent molar teeth, with minimum 24-month follow-up period, were included. Extracted data: number of sealed teeth, number of teeth without completely retained sealants, number of sealed teeth with caries. The number of teeth with complete sealant retention and absence of carious lesions/cavities was calculated; the predictive outcomes: true/false positive; false/true negative were established. Random values were generated as control-data. Diagnostic Odds ratios (DOR) were computed and tested for statistical difference. Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were plotted.Results: 95 trials were found. Median DOR values were 1.21 and 0.28 for test-and control data, respectively. Wilcoxon test (z = 0.56; p = 0.58) and Sign test (z = 1.38; p = 0.17) results were statistically non-significant. The null-hypothesis was not rejected. Conclusions:Predictions based on the retention loss of resin sealants, regarding caries manifestation, was no more accurate than random guesses. Sealant retention loss appears not to be a valid predictor for clinical outcome.

3-year survival rates of retained composite resin and ART sealants using two assessment criteria

“…To what extent the retention of a sealant is a prerequisite for its preventive effect has not been reported frequently. 5,35,36 In the present study, 84% of the occlusal surfaces sealed with CR and 92% of those sealed according to ART were either partially or completely re-exposed after 3 years while in only approximately 9% of the sealed occlusal surfaces did a cavitated dentine carious lesion develop during the 3-year study period. 14 This indicates that loss of sealant material does not appear to be an indicator for the development of cavitated dentine carious lesions in re-exposed occlusal surfaces.…”

Are self‐etch adhesive systems effective in the retention of occlusal sealants? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Recently, a study suggests that the total loss of the sealant retention appears not to be a valid predictor for clinical outcome 37 . In this systematic review, we considered as insuccess both partial and total loss of sealant.…”

Glass Ionomer Sealants Can Prevent Dental Caries but Cannot Prevent Posteruptive Breakdown on Molars Affected by Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: One-Year Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…More importantly, this study found no association between sealant retention and dental caries or PEB. For dental caries, it has already been proven that sealant retention is not the most important parameter to be considered since, especially for GIC sealants, failures in retention cannot be considered a predictor for caries progression in permanent molars [Mickenautsch and Yengopal, 2013].…”