The success rates of a glass ionomer cement and a resin-based fissure sealant placed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students Caries-preventive effect of glass ionomer and resin-based fissure sealants on permanent teeth: An update of systematic review evidence Retention and caries preventive effects of a GIC and a resin-based fissure sealant. Effects of glass ionomer cement, resin-based pit and fissure sealant and HF applications on occlusal caries in a developing country field trial. Retention of a glass ionomer cement and a resin-based fissure sealant and effect on carious outcome after 7 years. Comparing the caries-preventive effect of two fissure sealing modalities in public health care: a single application of glass ionomer and a routine resin-based sealant programme. A randomized split-mouth clinical trial. Fissure sealing with a light-cured resin-reinforced glass-ionomer cement (Vitrebond) compared with a resin sealant. Effectiveness of a glass ionomer cement used as a pit and fissure sealant in recently erupted permanent first molars. Handling and clinical performance of a glass ionomer sealant. Retention of a resin-based sealant and a glass ionomer used as a fissure sealant: a comparative clinical study. A three-year follow-up of glass ionomer cement and resin fissure sealants. Comparison of glass-ionomer and resin-based fissure sealants: a 2-year clinical trial. A 5-year evaluation of two glass-ionomer cements used as fissure sealants. [Clinical evaluation of fluor protector and glass-ionomer cement used as pit and fissure sealant for preventing pit and fissure caries in children]. A 3-year clinical evaluation of glass-ionomer cements used as fissure sealants. Caries-preventive efficacy and retention of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement and a resin-based fissure sealant: a 3-year split-mouth randomised clinical trial. In vitro evaluation of sealing pits and fissures with newer glass-ionomer cements developed for the ART technique. [Caries prevention effect of resin based sealants and glass ionomor sealants]. Caries-Preventive Effect of a One-Time Application of Composite Resin and Glass Ionomer Sealants after 5 Years A comparison of retention and the effect on caries of fissure sealing with a glass-ionomer and a resin-based sealant. Caries-preventive effect of sealants produced with altered glass-ionomer materials, after 2 years. Penetration of a light-cured glass ionomer and a resin sealant into occlusal fissures and etched enamel. One-year clinical evaluation of a Glass Carbomer fissure sealant, a preliminary study.
AIM : To evaluate retention and caries prevention of a glass-ionomer cement ( GIC ) and a resin-based fissure sealant placed by fifth-year undergraduate dental students . METHODS : The study was conducted according to a split-mouth , r and omised clinical trial . Children with at least one pair of caries-free permanent first molars with deep pits and fissures were included in the study . The children were selected from a population that had a high risk for dental caries .  Sealant material s were applied by fifth-year undergraduate dental students on 346  fissures of the first permanent molars in 173 children . The ages of the children ranged from 7–15 years ( mean 9.4 ) . Two research ers at the clinics supervised all of the procedures . Intra-examiner reproducibility and inter-examiner reproducibility were 0.90 and 0.86 , respectively , for the clinical assessment of sealant retention and caries evaluation . RESULTS :  GIC sealants were completely lost in 31.9 % and resin-based sealants in 16.6 % ( p<0.05 ) . The total retention rates of GIC sealants and resin-based sealants were 13.8 % and 20.8 % , respectively . After 24 months , the caries increment was 3.4 % for GIC sealants and 4.8 % for resin-based sealants ( p>0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS : The retention of GIC sealants was markedly inferior to the retention of resin-based sealants ; however , GIC when used as a pit and fissure sealant was slightly more effective in preventing occlusal caries Background This article constitutes a partial up date of the original systematic review evidence by Yengopal et al. from 15 January 2008 ( published in the Journal of Oral Science in 2009 ) with primary focus on research quality in regard to bias risk in trials . Its aim is to up date the existing systematic review evidence from the English literature as to whether caries occurrence on pits and fissures of teeth sealed with either GIC or resin is the same . Methods In addition to the 12 trials included during the original systematic review , 5 new trials were identified during the data base search ( up to 26 August 2010 ) and 2 further trials were included from a h and search and reference check . Of these , 3 trials were excluded and 16 were accepted for data extraction and quality assessment . The quality of accepted trials was assessed , using up date d quality criteria , and the risk of bias was investigated in more depth than previously reported . In addition , the focus of quantitative synthesis was shifted to single data sets that were extracted from the accepted trials . Results Twenty-six dichotomous and 4 continuous data sets were extracted . Meta- analysis and cumulative meta- analysis were used in combining clinical ly homogenous data sets . The overall outcome of the computed data sets suggest no difference between the caries-preventive effects of GIC- and resin-based fissure sealants . Conclusions This overall outcome is in agreement with the conclusions of the original systematic review . Although the findings of the trials identified in this up date may be considered to be less affected by attrition- and publication bias , their risk of selection - and detection-/performance bias is high . Thus , verification of the currently available results requires further high quality r and omised control trials Abstract Fissure sealing using partially filled resins is an established caries preventive practice . Glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) sealants may offer additional advantages due to their ability to bond chemically to enamel and release fluoride . The aim of this study was to compare the caries preventive effect and retention of a GIC and a resin-based sealant . Ketac-fil ® was tested against a chemically cured resin-based material ( Delton ® ) using a split mouth design . Perth ( Western Australia ) schoolchildren ( n= 465 ) , mean age 7 yr±0.72 ( S.D. ) , received sealants  on the occlusal surfaces of sound homologous permanent first molar pairs .  Test ( GIC ) and control ( resin ) sealants were systematic ally allocated to left and right sides based on the child 's month of birth , and were placed by dental therapists . After 3.64±0.11 yr , 415 children were examined by different clinicians , and the clinical status of the teeth and the extent of sealant retention recorded . Sealants were deemed retained when at least 2/3 of the fissure pattern was still sealed . In 252 tooth pairs , neither sealant was retained to this extent . In 71 pairs , the GIC was not retained and the resin sealant retained . In 40 pairs the reverse occurred ( McNemar 's test , χ2= 8.66 , P < 0.005 ) . Net gain ( additional lesions prevented by the test agent per 100 treatments ) was 6.1%(95 % CI 3.3 % , 8.9 % ) . Effectiveness of the GIC was 80.6 % ( 95 % CI 59.6 % , 90.7 % ) . The relative risk of caries in test teeth was 0.19 ( 95 % CI 0.09 , 0.40 ) . The study suggests that complete retention of GIC sealant is not necessary for caries prevention in newly erupted permanent first molars The aim of this community-oriented study was to evaluate different methods to prevent fissure caries . The following products and measures were tested : 1 ) glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) applied by dentist ; 2 ) same material applied by short term ( 3 days ) trained personnel ( teachers ) ; 3 ) application of a 0.5 % HF solution three times ; 4 ) an established autopolymerized resin based sealant ( Delton ) . The study was performed in Bangkok , Thail and , a city in a developing country experiencing increasing caries prevalence . Children with at least three sound permanent molars from two age groups , 7 - 8 and 12 - 13-yr-olds respectively were chosen from very low to medium socioeconomic level families . 1264 children were systematic ally assigned to experiment or control groups based on school and DMFT . For the younger age group , the 2 yr mean DFS occlusal increment in the Control group was 0.66 surfaces . Significantly lower increments were observed in the GIC experimental group : 0.17 surfaces applied by the teachers and 0.32 applied by dentist , corresponding to 74 % and 52 % reductions , respectively . The mean increment in the HF group was 0.44 surfaces , a 33 % reduction in relation to the Control group . For the 12 - 13-yr-olds , the mean occlusal surface DF increment was 0.70 surfaces in the Control group . Almost no occlusal increment was found in the Delton group , 0.05 DFS , a 93 % reduction . In the GIC Dentist group , the DFS increment was 0.48 and in the Teacher group 0.56 , corresponding to 31 % and 20 % reduction , respectively . A slight and nonsignificant increase of caries in relation to the Control group was observed in the HF group . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS The aim of this study was to compare the retention and caries preventive efficacy of glass ionomer ( Fuji III ; GIC ) and light-cured resin-based ( Delton ; LCR ) fissure sealants .  One hundred and sixty-six 5 - 14-year-old schoolchildren received sealants on their newly erupted first or second molars ; a split mouth design was used . Previously reported 2-year results showed low retention rates for GIC sealants , but no difference in the caries increment between the groups . The same persons were invited to a dental check-up 6.1 to 7.8 ( mean 7.1 ) years after the application of sealants ;  111 persons ( 66.8 % of the original group ) participated in the study . The retention of sealants , and the caries status of occlusal surfaces and adjacent proximal surfaces was recorded . On the sealed occlusal surfaces , 10 % of GIC and 45 % of LCR sealants were totally and 9 % of GIC and 20 % of LCR sealants partially present . Twenty-three ( 23.5 % ) of the occlusal surfaces sealed with GIC and 16 ( 16.5 % ) of those sealed with LCR were carious or filled . Compared to LCR sealants , the effectiveness of GIC sealants  was -44 % ( 95 % CI -71 % , -16 % ) and net gain -7 % ( 95 % CI -18 % , 4 % ) . The relative risk of caries occurring was 1.44 ( 95 % CI 0.96 , 2.14 ) AIM The aim of this study was to compare the caries-preventive effect of two types of sealant modalities and to evaluate whether the caries-preventive effect is related to sealant retention . A hypothesis was tested in which a glass ionomer sealant , once applied to the occlusal surface , was able to protect the fissure from caries even if the sealant appeared lost at visual inspection . DESIGN A 3-year r and omized split-mouth trial evaluating two sealant modalities was performed at a public health centre in Finl and . A chemically curing glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) and light-curing resin-based ( RB ) sealant material were applied r and omly to the permanent second molars . Sealant application as a routine treatment procedure was carried out to 599 children in the age group of 12 - 16 years .  Caries rate of the sealed teeth and sealant retention with both material s were analysed by a modified McNemar 's test . The effectiveness , rate difference , and relative risk with both sealant material s were measured . RESULTS The difference in caries rate between the two modalities was highly significant . When compared to the GIC sealant method , the effectiveness of  RB sealant method was 74.1 % and the rate difference 3.2 % ( 95 % CI 1.44 % , 4.98 % ) . The relative risk for RB-sealed surfaces vs. GIC-sealed surfaces of having detectable dentin caries was 0.26 ( 95 % CI 0.12 , 0.57 ) . The retention rate of sealants was higher with RB than GIC ( P < 0.001 ) . The effectiveness of the retention rate for RB sealants was 94.8 % and the rate difference 87.2 % ( 95 % CI 83.86 % , 90.50 % ) . The relative risk during the 3-year study period of having a defective or lost RB sealant  was 0.052 ( 95 % CI 0.036 , 0.075 ) when compared to having a defective or lost GIC sealant . CONCLUSION It is concluded that in preventing dentin caries a RB sealant programme including resealing when necessary was more effective than a single application of GIC . The original hypothesis was thus falsified The aims of the present study were to evaluate the retention and caries-preventive effect of a single application of a light-cured resin-reinforced glass-ionomer cement ( Vitrebond ) in pits and fissures of newly erupted permanent first and second molars , when compared with a single application of a resin-based sealant ( Concise White Sealant ) during a 3-year period . The study group comprised 73 pairs of contralateral newly erupted permanent first and second molars ( 136 fissure sites ) in 53 children ( 29 girls , 24 boys ) . A split-mouth experimental design was used in which the two sealants were r and omly allocated to one of the teeth within each pair . Acid etching was not used before application of the glass-ionomer cement . The sealed teeth were checked for retention and caries after 1 , 6 , 12 , 24 and 36 months . The resin-based sealant was almost totally retained after 3 years ( 97 % ) and there was no caries in these teeth . The glass-ionomer cement was increasingly lost and could be observed in only 9 % of the sealed sites after 3 years . Carious lesions developed in 10 ( 7.4 % ) sites ( nine teeth , seven children ) . It was concluded that the resin-based sealant is superior to the glass-ionomer cement in preventing caries , and that the superior retention of the resin probably is an important factor for this PURPOSE This study 's purpose was to evaluate the caries-preventive effect of a glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) used as an occlusal sealant on recently erupted permanent first molars . METHODS A double-blind , r and omized , controlled , clinical trial was undertaken that included 36 5- to 8-year-olds ( and 92 permanent first molars ) who were r and omly allocated to the test group ( GIC ) or the control group ( auto-polymerized resin-based sealant [ RBS ] )  . The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the number of new carious or filled occlusal surfaces in the 2 groups . RESULTS After 6 months , 1 occlusal surface in the test group and 2 occlusal surfaces in the control group showed carious lesions ( P=.15 ) . In the fifth year of follow-up , 2 occlusal surfaces in the test group and 7 occlusal surfaces in the control group were filled or carious ( P=.42 ) , and the mean number of sealed surfaces that became carious or filled was 0.2 ( 95 % confidence interval [CI]=0.02 - 0.70 ) for the GIC-sealed teeth and 0.6 ( 95 % CI=0.20 - 1.30 ) for the RBS-sealed teeth ( P=.30 ) . CONCLUSION High-viscosity glass ionomer cement can provide some level of protection against dental caries when used as a dental sealant in newly erupted permanent first molars PURPOSE To compare the h and ling and 6-month clinical performance of an experimental resin-modified glass ionomer cement ( K-512 = Fuji III LC ) with that of a light-cured resin-based sealant ( Delton Opaque ) when used as a pit and fissure sealant in 15 - 27 year old subjects . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Seventeen patients with 65 cement and 55 resin-based sealants  were recalled after 6 months for clinical examination and color photographs . RESULTS Sealant retention failures requiring retreatment were 74 % for the glass ionomer cement sealant and 11 % for the resin-based sealant , with one instance of fissure caries being found for each material . The resin-modified glass ionomer cement sealant showed a slight darkening from its initial placement , and was also more difficult to h and le than the resin-based sealant Sealing occlusal pits and fissures with resin-based sealants is a proven method of preventing occlusal caries . Retention of the sealant is very essential for its efficiency . This study evaluated the retention of glass ionomer used as a fissure sealant when compared to a self-cure resin-based sealant .  One hundred and seven children between the ages of 6 - 9 years , with all four newly erupted permanent first molars were selected . Two permanent first molars on one side of the mouth were sealed with Delton , a resin-based sealant , and the contralateral two permanent first molars were sealed with Fuji VII glass ionomer cement .  Evaluation of sealant retention was performed at regular intervals over 12 months , using Simonsen 's criteria . At the end of the study period , the retention of the resin sealant  was seen to be superior to that of the glass ionomer sealant The aim of the present study was to compare intraindividually a type III fissure-sealant , glass ionomer cement with a resin-based sealant .  One hundred and forty-eight first permanent molars were sealed in forty-seven children . After three years 20.8 percent of the resin and 34.7 percent of the glass ionomer cement sealants were partially lost , and 0 percent and 37.5 percent , respectively , were totally lost . One tooth ( 1.4 percent ) in the glass ionomer cement group and three teeth ( 4.2 percent ) in the resin group developed caries In recent years , the interest in the use of glass-ionomer material s as fissure sealants has increased . The aim of this study was to compare the retention and caries-preventive effect of glass-ionomer ( Fuji III ) and resin-based light-cured ( Delton ) fissure sealants .  Three health center dentists applied the sealants to 166 children ; glass-ionomer sealants  on one side and resin-based sealants on the contralateral side of the mouth . After 2 yr , one pair of molar teeth in the mouths of 151 children was compared . Twenty-six percent of glass-ionomer and 82 % of resin-based sealants were totally present ( P < 0.001 ) . During the 2 yr , in both groups 4.6 % of the sealed surfaces became carious . The results show that the retention of glass-ionomer sealants  is markedly inferior to the resin-based sealants . In this study , however , no difference in caries increment on the sealed surfaces was observed . This may be due to the different mechanism of caries prevention for the sealant material s , or to the overall low caries activity of the participants OBJECTIVE To evaluate the retention and caries preventive effect of two glass ionomers used as fissure sealants : one resin modified glass ionomer ( A ) and one conventional glass-ionomer cement ( B ) . SAMPLE S AND METHODS The permanent first molars of 100 children , 6 - 8 years of age at the start of the study , were sealed . Material A was applied on one side ( right side , upper , and lower ) and material B was applied on the contralateral side ( left side , upper , and lower ) of the mouth . The control group was composed of 108 children who did not receive fissure sealant but received oral health education .  After 5 years , 64.0 % of the children of the experimental group and 73.0 % of the children of the control group were available for reexamination . RESULTS Material A was completely lost in 74.2 % and material B in 89.0 % ( Wilcoxon matched pairs test , P < 0.05 ) . Total retention rate was 1.6 % for material s A and B. After 5 years , caries increment was 21.5 % for the experimental group and 34.2 % for the control group ( chi2-test , P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Sealing pits and fissures with glass-ionomer cements was effective in preventing caries PURPOSE To study the clinical effect of the fluor protector and glass-ionomer cement used as pit and fissure sealant for preventing pit and fissure caries in children . METHODS 622 health permanent teeth in 6 - 8 years old children were divided into three groups . Children in the experimental group A ( n=207,335 teeth ) underwent fluor protector every six months , experimental group B(n=205 , 327 teeth ) with glass-ionomer cement used as pit and fissure sealant and children in the control group(n=210 , 354 teeth ) underwent no treatment . The incidence of caries were compared among the three groups using SPSS10.0 software package after 3 years . RESULTS After 3 years , the incidence of caries in A and B experimental groups were lower than in the control group , the difference was significant ( P<0.01 ) , but there were no significant difference between group A and group B ( P>0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Fluor protector and glass-ionomer cement used as pit and fissure sealant also have good clinical effect in preventing caries PURPOSE To evaluate the retention and caries-preventive effectiveness of two ionomeric material s ( conventional and resin-modified ) , used as fissure sealants . MATERIAL S AND METHODS 100 children ( 6 - 8 years old ) with a total of 400 permanent first molars received  200 conventional glass-ionomer ( Ketac Bond ) and 200 resin-modified glass-ionomer ( Vitremer ) sealants .  Additionally , 108 children constituted the control group ( 432 teeth ) . Two dentists assisted by dental hygienists performed the sealant application . Clinical evaluations were carried out 6 , 12 , 24 , and 36 months after the sealant application by two other dentists , not carrying out clinical procedures , previously calibrated ( Kappa > 0.75 ) . RESULTS Total retention rates of 26 % , 12 % , 3 % , and 4 % for Ketac Bond and 61 % , 31 % , 14 % , and 13 % for Vitremer , being 6 , 12 , 24 , and 36 months after clinical evaluation , respectively . The differences between the two material s were statistically significant . The experimental groups showed a caries incidence of 93 % , 78 % , 49 % , and 56 % lower than the control group ( P < 0.01 ) for the four evaluation periods , respectively . In conclusion , the retention rates of ionomeric material s were low . Nevertheless , these material s showed a cariostatic effect , supported by statistically lower caries incidence in experimental groups compared to control group . Presence of active incipient caries was statistically associated with caries incidence in the first molars after 36 months , in relation to either experimental or control group PURPOSE This prospect i ve clinical trial compared the retention rate and caries-preventive efficacy of two types of sealant modalities over a 3-year period . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Using a split-mouth r and omised design , 1280 sealants were r and omly applied on sound permanent second molars of 320 young patients aged between 12 and 16 years . Half of the teeth ( n = 640 ) were sealed with a resin-modified glass ionomer cement ( RMGIC ) ( Vitremer ™ , 3 M ESPE ) and the other half ( n = 640 ) with a conventional light-cure , resin-based fissure sealant ( LCRB ) ( Fluoroshield ® , Dentsply Caulk ) . Teeth were evaluated at baseline , 6- , 12- , 18- , 24- , 30- and 36-month intervals with regard to retention and new caries development . RESULTS On the sealed occlusal surfaces after 3 years , 5.10 % of RMGIC and 91.08 % of LCRB sealants were totally intact and 6.37 % of RMGIC and 7.65 % of LCRB sealants were partially intact . New caries lesions were found in 20.06 % of RMGIC sealed occlusal surfaces , compared to 8.91 % for LCRB sealants . CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present clinical study suggest that RMGIC should be used only as a transitional sealant that can be applied to newly erupting teeth throughout the eruptive process , whereas LCRB sealants are used to successfully prevent occlusal caries lesions once an effective rubber dam can be achieved . It can be concluded that there are differences between the RMGIC and LCRB sealants over a 3-year period in terms of the retention rate and caries-preventive efficacy . RMGIC can serve as a simple and economic sealing solution , however provisional . Due to its poor retention rate , periodic recalls are necessary , even after 6 months , to eventually replace the lost sealant Four conventional glass-ionomer cements specifically developed for use with the atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) technique were compared with a resin-based sealant for marginal and surface dye penetration , material voids , and completeness of enamel fissure penetration .  Thirty sound permanent m and ibular molar teeth were r and omly divided into five groups . After delayed placement of the glass-ionomer cement sealants using st and ardized finger pressure , and conventional placement of the resin-based sealant using a dental probe , the teeth were first thermocycled then the crowns immersed in methylene blue dye before being sectioned . There were no statistically significant differences found between any of the five material s , apart from less marginal dye leakage being present for the resin-based sealant than for one of the glass-ionomer cements . The cements , however , showed better fissure penetration than did the sealant . Despite the delayed placement and higher viscosity , all of the glass-ionomer cements showed satisfactory penetration of the enamel fissures and minimal marginal and surface dye penetration , and material voids , when placed using firm finger pressure . The cements could prove to be useful in the dental treatment of apprehensive children OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of resin-based sealants and glass ionomer sealants on  caries prevention in the first permanent molars . METHODS A r and omized controlled , examiner-blinded , 2-year clinical trial with parallel groups was conducted . A total of 419 children ( 664 first molars ) who had at least one sound first permanent molar with deep fissures or fissures with signs of non-cavitated lesions were recruited . They were r and omly allocated into three groups . Helioseal F , a light-cured resin-based sealants was used in group R ( 136 children with 219 first molars ) . FUJI VII , a light-cured glass ionomer sealants was used in group G ( 130 children with 218 first molars ) and group N ( 153 children with 227 first molars ) was blank control . Follow-up examinations were conducted at 6 , 12 , and 24 month after sealing to examine the sealants retention and caries incidence . Chi-square test was used to compare the differences of caries incidence among the 3 groups . Generalized estimating equations ( GEE ) was used to analyze the effective factors of caries incidence . RESULTS During the 2-year follow-up period , 3.0 % ( 6/197 ) of the teeth in group R , 6.7 % ( 13/193 ) of the teeth in group G , and 14.7 % ( 29/197 ) of the teeth in group N were diagnosed as having developed a cavitated lesion . The difference in the incidence of caries among the three groups was significant(P < 0.05 ) . No significant difference in caries incidence was found between group R and group G ( P > 0.05 ) . The tooth-level preventive fractions were 79.6 % for resin-based sealants and 54.4 % for glass ionomer sealants , respectively . CONCLUSIONS Both resin-based sealants and glass ionomer sealants can effectively prevent the incidence of caries in the first permanent molars . The two sealants have similar caries prevention effect The aim of the present trial was to ( 1 ) compare the caries-preventive effect of glass ionomer sealants , placed according to the atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) procedure , with composite resin sealants over time and ( 2 ) investigate the caries-preventive effect after complete disappearance of sealant material . Forty-six boys and 57 girls , mean age 7.8 years , were r and omly divided into two treatment groups in a parallel-group study design . A light-polymerized composite resin sealant material and a high-viscosity glass ionomer were each placed in 180 fully erupted first molars in their respective treatment groups . Evaluation took place annually for 5 years by calibrated examiners . After 5 years , 86 % composite resin and 88 % glass ionomer sealants did not survive . Three categories of re-exposure periods for caries development in pits and fissures after complete loss of sealants were distinguished : 0–1 , 1–2 and 2–3 years . In the 2- to 3-year group , 13 and 3 % of pits and fissures previously sealed with composite resin and glass ionomer , respectively , were diagnosed as having developed a dentine lesion . The relative risks ( 95 % CI ) of dentine lesion development in surfaces sealed with glass ionomer compared to those sealed with composite resin after 3 , 4 and 5 years were 0.22 ( 0.06–0.82 ) , 0.32 ( 0.14–0.73 ) and 0.28 ( 0.13–0.61 ) , respectively . The relative risks of dentine lesion development in pits and fissures previously sealed with glass ionomer compared with composite resin over re-exposure periods of 1–2 and 2–3 years were 0.26 ( 0.14–0.48 ) and 0.25 ( 0.09–0.68 ) , respectively . We conclude that the caries-preventive effect of high-viscosity glass ionomer sealants , placed using the ART procedure , was between 3.1 and 4.5 times higher than that of composite resin sealants after 3–5 years . Furthermore , high-viscosity ( ART ) glass ionomer sealants appear to have a four times higher chance of preventing caries development in re-exposed pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces in first molars than light-cured composite resin sealant material over a 1- to 3-year period . A well- design ed clinical trial using different types of oral health personnel should be implemented to confirm these initial results OBJECTIVE To compare the retention and the caries preventive effect of a glass-ionomer developed for fissure sealing ( Fuji III ) and a chemically polymerized resin-based fissure sealant ( Delton ) . DESIGN A split mouth r and omized design using contralateral teeth . SETTING WHO Regional Demonstration , Training and Research Center for Oral Health , Damascus , Syrian Arab Republic . SAMPLE AND METHODS 179 children , 7 years old at the start of the study , were recruited from schools close to the Center . Only children with at least one pair of permanent first molars that were caries free or only had incipient lesions were included in the study . Follow-up examinations for sealant retention were done after 6 months , 1 year , 2 years and 3 years . The number of children available for reexamination was 129 ( after 6 months ) ; 121 ( after 1 year ) ; 115 ( after 2 years ) and 116 ( after 3 years ) . Four dental hygienists were trained in the sealant procedures and did approximately one fourth of the sealants each . RESULTS After 3 years the  glass-ionomer sealant was completely lost in almost 90 % of the teeth compared to less than 10 % of the resin sealed teeth . After 3 years the relative risk of a tooth sealed with glass-ionomer over that of a tooth sealed with resin was 3.38 ( 95 % CL : 1.98 ; 5.79 ) . This finding was consistent over type of tooth . CONCLUSIONS The glass-ionomer sealant tested in the present study had poorer retention and less caries protective effect than the resin-based sealant used OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to investigate the caries-preventive effect of sealants produced with a high-viscosity glass-ionomer with an elevated powder-liquid ratio ( ART ) , of having energy added to this glass-ionomer , and that of glass-carbomer , in comparison to that of resin composite sealants . METHODS The r and omized controlled trial covered 407 children , with a mean age of 8 years . At a school compound three dentists placed sealants in pits and fissures of high caries-risk children . Evaluation by two independent evaluators was conducted after 0.5 , 1 and 2 years . The Kaplan-Meier survival method , ANOVA and t-test were used in analyzing the data . RESULTS 1352 first permanent molars were sealed . 6.6 % of children and 6.8 % of sealants dropped out within 2 years . 27 re-exposed pits and fissures , 20 in occlusal and 7 in smooth surfaces , in 25 children , developed a dentin carious lesion . The cumulative survival of dentin carious lesion-free pits and fissures in the  glass-carbomer sealant group was statistically significantly lower ( 97.4 % ) than those in the high-viscosity glass-ionomer with energy supplied ( 99 % ) and the resin-composite ( 98.9 % ) sealant groups . There was no statistically significant difference in the cumulative survival of dentin carious lesion-free pits and fissures , between the high-viscosity glass-ionomer with ( 99 % ) and without ( 98.3 % ) energy supplied sealant groups , after 2 years . SIGNIFICANCE The survival of dentin carious lesion-free pits and fissures was high in all sealant types . More dentin carious lesions were observed in the glass-carbomer sealant group PURPOSE To evaluate the penetration of a light-cured glass ionomer and a resin sealant into occlusal fissures and etched enamel . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Forty-eight maxillary and m and ibular caries-free premolars scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons were isolated , the occlusal surfaces subjected to prophylaxis and acid-etched with orthophosphoric acid prior to the application of the VariGlass VLC glass ionomer and Concise resin sealants . The teeth were extracted , two longitudinal median sectiors from each tooth were ground to a thickness of 80 - 100 microns , and the sealant penetration into the fissures evaluated . The sections were placed in nitric acid to dissolve the enamel so the lengths of the tags which had penetrated into the etched enamel could be measured at different sites on the walls of the fissures . RESULTS Both sealants adapted well to the fissures but penetrated deeper into shallow , open fissures than into deep , constricted fissures . The VariGlass VLC tags into etched enamel were generally longer than the Concise projections Glass Carbomer is a new generation of restorative material developed from glass-ionomer cements with possibility of gradual mineralization into fluorapatite . The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate the retention of Glass Carbomer fissure sealant  after 12 months , in comparison to a commonly used conventional resin-based sealant .  Forty-eight teeth in 24 patients [ mean ( SD ) = 8 ( 2.3 ) years ] with well-delineated fissure morphology were r and omly divided into two equal groups and sealed with Bis-GMA resin-based Helioseal F ( group A , Ivoclar Vivadent , Liechtenstein ) and Glass Carbomer ( group B , Glass Carbomer Sealant , Glass Carbomer Products , Leiden , Netherl and s ) using the split mouth design . Material s were placed and set according to the manufacturer 's instructions using a polymerization unit Bluephase 16i ( Vivadent , Liechtenstein ) . Complete sealant retentions in both groups were 100 % and 75 % after 6 and 12 months of clinical service , respectively . There were there were no secondary caries lesions in both groups after 6 months ; two new carious lesions were detected in both groups after 12 months . The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant difference between the two groups at both evaluations points ( P > 0.05 ) . Glass Carbomer material showed a similar retention rate when compared with a resin-based sealant . Future studies are required to examine the long-term performance of Glass Carbomer sealants
This systematic review with meta- analysis found no evidence that either material was superior to the other in the prevention of dental caries .
Thus , both material s appear equally suitable for clinical application as a fissure sealant material
The purpose of this quantitative systematic review was to appraise the evidence on the  caries-preventive effect of glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) in relation to  resin-based fissure sealants .