Demonstrating the Sealant Treatment Effectiveness by Using Survival Analysis

Methods: The dental chart and progress markings of digital dental records of two health centers in Finland (Kemi and Vantaa, n=3881) were data mined and studied conducting survival analysis methodology. In Vantaa routine sealing tratment were performed in most children whereas in Kemi targeted sealing was provided especially to high-caries-risk children. The comparisons of the survival times of first permanent molars were demonstrated between all sealed, partly sealed and unsealed subjects.

Results: Sealing of all first molars was effective in preventing dental restorations at the same level in Vantaa and in Kemi (survival rate about 70% of first molars at the age of 13 years of subjects). The first molars of partly- sealed subjects had the shortest survival time in both towns (survival rate 50-60%). The longest survival had the first molars of unsealed subjects in Kemi where the low caries risk subjects were left unsealed(survival rate 80%). The difference of survival of first molars between unsealed subjects in Vantaa and in Kemi was statistically significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Sealing all four permanent first molars rather than some of them and leaving unsealed the first molars of caries-resistant subjects would enable a decrease in unnecessary preventive work.