Role of Sealants in the Prevention of Pit and Fissure Caries in Permanent Molars

Aim: To assess the efficacy of resin based fissure sealant and the Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) in the pit and fissures of newly erupted mandibular and maxillary permanent molars. Method: The clinical trial study was performed at de'Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore/Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore from 1st January 2018 to 30th June 2018. Total number of 72 patients were examined and selected according to the inclusion criteria to be treated with fissure sealants. 31 patients received the resin based fissure sealants and 42 patients got glass ionomer as fissure sealant. All the patients had the age between 6-7 years. Restoration success was scored according the Ryge's criteria. The data analyzed under the chi square statistic tool in order to test the hypothesis. Results: The Chi square statistic value obtained with degree of freedom 1 (df) is 0.0762. The result is not significant at p< 0.05. So the null hypothesis is not rejected. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in restoration success between the resin based fissure sealant and the glass ionomer sealer applied in molars of the younger patients.