A survey of sealant use by Canadian dental practitioners

Although there are reports on the use of fissure sealants in the United States, little information is available about the extent to which this preventive measure is used in Canada. This study reports the results of a survey of sealant use. Based upon the responses from 589 Canadian dental practitioners, it was found that 84.8% used sealants in their practices. There was no statistically significant difference in sealant use between dentists in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. However, usage increased with the number of dental auxiliaries in the practice. There also was more use of sealants in patients covered by dental insurance. Sealant usage declined the longer dentists had been in practice. Light-cured, tinted sealants appeared to be the most popular types.