Preventive
Sara Al-Bitar, DDS
PGY2 Pediatric Dental Resident Tucson
NYU Lutheran Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
NYU Lutheran Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
Tucson, Arizona, United States
Amanda Pinder, DDS, MS
Program Director
NYU Langone - Tucson, AZ
Tucson, Arizona, United States
Purpose: The objective of this research is to determine the outcomes of primary molars treated with sealants under general anesthesia. A chart review was conducted amongst pediatric dental patients at El Rio Community Health Center. Outcomes of teeth treated with sealants will be determined based on need for restorative treatment at 6, 12, 18, and 24-month examination intervals.
Methods: Electronic chart records of pediatric dental patients that had primary molar resin sealants placed from 2015-2019 under general anesthesia at El Rio Community Health Center were assessed. Data points assessing patient’s age, sex, tooth number, recall interval, and if tooth required future treatment were collected. Sealant success was determined by lack of treatment needs identified at each recall interval.
Results: From 87 charts, 832 teeth were reviewed. Of these 320 teeth were included in our review. 152 (49.2%) males and 157 (50.8%) females were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 4.06 years of age. The distribution of failure of sealants at each interval was 7.5% at 6 months, 32.8% at 12 months, 34.3% at 18 months, and 25.4% at 24 months. Success was higher with older patients than younger patients.
Conclusion: Success of resin-based sealants was greatest at the 6-month recall. Success continued to decrease until the 24-month recall. There was no sex predilection, but younger patients had more sealant failure than older children. Success of sealants increased overtime, but the results were not statistically significant.