Dental sealants guidelines development: 2002-2014

The purpose of this paper was to review the chronology of dental sealant guideline developments and changes in recommendations regarding sealant usage by various state, national, and international organizations between 2002 and 2014. More specific objectives include: (1) review and summarize the findings of systematic evidence-based reviews and recommendations regarding the use of pit and fissure sealants published since the 2002 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Pediatric Restorative Dentistry Consensus Conference; (2) identify consistencies and changes in conclusions or recommendations regarding the use of pit and fissure sealants, and differences in the methods used to develop recommendations/guidelines over time; and (3) describe the purpose and scope of current efforts to update American Dental Association 2008 Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Pit and Fissure Sealants. A summary of recommendations based on experts' synthesis of published evidence and recommendations is included.