A 48 month survival analysis comparing sealant (Delton) with fluoride varnish (Duraphat) in 6-8 year old children

Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Lutheran Medical Center

Resident’s Name: Craig Elice Date: 2/27/2009
Article title: A 48 month survival analysis comparing sealant (Delton) with fluoride varnish (Duraphat) in 6-8 year old children
Author(s): Bravo BM, Garcia-Anillo I, Baca P, and Llodra JC
Journal: Community Dent. Oral Epidemiology
Volume (number): 25:247-50, 1997
Major topic: Compare sealant and fluoride varnish in the prevention of occlusal caries
Type of Article: Research article
Main Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to compare Delton visible light fissure sealant and Duraphat fluoride varnish in preventing occlusal caries in permanent first molars.
Materials and Methods: A 48 month clinical trial consisted of 344 children aged 6-8 years of age divided into three groups: 104 children in the sealant group, 112 children in the varnish group, and 128 children in a control group. Sealant and varnish groups were evaluated every 6 months and the sealant repaired or fluoride varnish was reapplied every 6 months. Because the sealants were maintained throughout the study and fluoride was applied throughout the study, a survival analysis was used to compare the groups as the ability to prevent dental caries regardless of the time of origin of the study.
Findings: 66 children were lost during the study period. A total of 1201 molars were part of the study. The median survival times before caries developed was 28.6 months for the control molars and the full 48 months of the study for the sealant and varnish groups. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis allowed comparison of risk of decay over time and allowed this comparison to occur independent of time. The study shows that sealants were significantly more effective than the control (hazard ratio of 0.177); varnish was significantly more effective than the control group (hazard ratio of 0.463), and that sealants were more effective than varnish (hazard ratio of 0.382)
Key points/Summary : Sealants provide the best protection for occlusal surfaces of permanent molars when monitored and repaired every 6 months
Assessment of article: The article was difficult to read as the statistics were discussed at length while the actual data and discussion were a minimal part of the article.