Use of Fissure Sealants in Finland -- A Questionnaire Survey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out whether a nationwide preventive caries strategy for the occlusal caries could be identified in Finland, and to trace the changes, if any, in the sealant application policy within the past 10 years.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to the principal dentist at every municipal dental health center, adding up to a total of 434 questionnaires. A group of randomly chosen general practitioners was also included. The questionnaire had 22 specific questions.

Results: In 2001, a vast majority of the of municipal dental health centers (65%), regarded fissure sealants as one of the main preventive measures against occlusal caries, and applied them systematically, but using individual criteria. None of the respondents reported to place sealants without individual risk assessment, although these criteria varied. The respondents estimated the use of sealants to have increased in 4%, decreased in 68% and remained the same in 28% of the dental health centers during the last ten years. It was estimated, that among the children under the age of 19, sealant application comprised 16% of the visits to the municipal dental health centers in 1991, but only 9% in 2001, respectively.

Conclusion: During the last decade the tendency for sealant application has decreased. The earlier policy of annual check-up intervals has changed towards personal caries risk evaluation and prevention. Sealing is mainly restricted to the children / teeth with high caries risk, but no specific nationwide fissure sealant policy seems to exist.