A study of the intentional use of pit and fissure sealants over carious lesions

This article reports data on the intentional use by dentists of pit and fissure sealants over carious lesions. In early 1985 a random sample of 127 dentists in general practice and 20 pedodontists from Washington State were interviewed by phone. Completed interviews were obtained from 81.9 percent (N = 104) of the general practitioners and 60.0 percent (N = 12) of the pedodontists. Eighteen percent of the dentists who offer sealants in their practice use sealants on "incipient" or "superficial" lesions. The major reasons given for not sealing lesions are: concern about failure or leakage, lack of confidence, or amalgams would be better. Dentists who seal lesions have larger practices in terms of the number of operatories and patients seen per week, place sealants on a larger proportion of their child patients, and more frequently delegate sealants to the hygienist. There is no relationship between placing sealants on lesions and placing sealants on primary teeth, the dentist's year of graduation, the number of years the dentist has used sealants, being a pedodontist, or employing a hygienist.