A national survey of sealant use by pediatric dentists

A national survey of pediatric dentists was undertaken to determine their level of sealant use and the factors that affected level of use. A twelve-page mailed questionnaire was completed by 329 practitioners. Decision-making factors, attitudes and knowledge about sealants, sealant awareness, characteristics of sealant use, undergraduate dental school experience with sealants, auxiliary factors, impact of insurance, characteristics of dental practice, interaction with colleagues, and characteristics of patient populations were explored as they related to level of sealant use. Variables significantly associated with sealant use included: availability of insurance, ability to delegate sealant procedures, and patient income and acceptance. Frequent users were more knowledgeable about sealant issues and were more likely to be consulted by their peers.