Cost-effectiveness of Four Methods in Preventing Fissure Caries in Permanent Teeth

A Comparative Study on the Cost-effectiveness of Four Methods in Preventing Fissure Caries in Permanent Teeth

The aim of this proposed study is to investigate the cost-effectiveness of four methods in preventing fissure caries in permanent teeth, which is the most prevalent dental disease in primary school children in China. The four caries prevention methods are: resin fissure sealant, atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealant, sodium fluoride varnish, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution. The specific study objectives are: to describe longitudinally the clinical outcomes of using the above four methods to prevent dental caries in the pits and fissures of permanent first molars in school children, to describe the cost of using the above four methods to prevent dental caries in an outreaching dental care programme in China, and to compare the cost-effectiveness of the above four caries prevention methods.

Resin dental sealant placed on pits and fissures of first permanent molars, single-time placement and no replacement

ART dental sealant placed with glass ionomer material using the ART technique on permanent first molar, single-time placement and no replacement

Topical application of 5% sodium fluoride varnish onto pits and fissures of permanent first molars, repeated every 6 months

Topical application of 38% silver fluoride solution onto pits and fissures of permanent first molars, repeated every 12 months

ART dental sealant placed with glass ionomer material using the ART technique on permanent first molar, single-time placement and no replacement

Resin dental sealant placed on pits and fissures of first permanent molars, single-time placement and no replacement

Topical application of 5% sodium fluoride varnish onto pits and fissures of permanent first molars, repeated every 6 months

Topical application of 38% silver fluoride solution onto pits and fissures of permanent first molars, repeated every 12 months

Inclusion Criteria: school children in good general health has at least one pair of sound permanent first molars with deep occlusal fissures or fissures with signs of early caries Exclusion Criteria: children with major systemic disease or on long-term medication children not cooperative and refuse dental treatments

Liu BY, Xiao Y, Chu CH, Lo EC. Glass ionomer ART sealant and fluoride-releasing resin sealant in fissure caries prevention--results from a randomized clinical trial. BMC Oral Health. 2014 May 19;14:54. doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-14-54.