Pit and Fissure Sealants Exam Questions And Answers

Pits and Fissures - ANS Pit- Area where grooves come together on teeth Fissure- Developmental groove that has an imperfect union where lobes join Caries - ANS Occlusal caries account for: - 43% of all caries surfaces in 6 and 7 year olds, - 57% in 12 to 14 year olds - 69% in those over 16 • 70% of carious lesions are on approximately 12% of the surface of the tooth • After 9 years only 27% of sealed tooth surfaces were decayed compared to 77% of tooth surfaces without sealant *Don't have to know just FYI* Pit and Fissure Sealants - ANS •Preventative Treatment - Physical barrier • Purpose -prevent dental caries in the pits and fissures Sealants are endorsed by the ADA and US public health Sealant History - ANS 1983 report "Consensus Development Conference Statement on Dental Sealants in the Prevention of Tooth Decay." • All state practice acts allow dental hygienists to place sealants • Majority of states allow dental assistants to perform this procedure • Many dental insurance companies view sealants as cost-effective prevention measure. Sealant Research - ANS Both public health programs and private practice surveys give positive results for the placement of pit and fissure sealants • Literature Review - Successful sealant - Reduction of occlusal - Economic impact of a caries-free population - dental experience it provides for children • painless and non-traumatic Sealant Rational - ANS Prevention better than treatment • Least invasive approach • Minimizing the cost • Safe and effective long-term • Caries attacks begin in childhood and continues into adulthood • May arrest caries progression • Requires meticulous application techniques • Not "standard of care" Pt. Selection - ANS Guidelines for private practice vs. community sealant programs • Risk assessment techniques for dental caries - Tooth morphology - Caries history - Family history - Home care - History of dental care - Eruption schedule Contraindications - ANS Poor patient behavior Carious lesion on the tooth Occlusal restoration Sealant Materials - ANS American Dental Association's Council on Scientific Affairs has approved a number of sealants • No material stands out as superior to the rest • Types: - Resin - dimethacrylate moner (BIS-GMA) - Compomer - Glass • Additional Materials - Fluoride • Resin • Glass ionomer - Primers and bonding agents Sealant Polymerization - ANS *Chemical* -Autopolymerization - 2 components that are mixed - Cured in 60 secs *visible light* - curing light is of high quality - tested light frequently for the value of the light emitted. • The retention rates for chemically cured and light cured sealants are similar Filler Content - ANS *Filled* • Opaque or pigmented • Fillers -Glass and quartz particles • Increased bond strength & resistance to abrasion and wear • Viscosity increased • May require occlusal adjustment *Unfilled*