Dentist use patterns for pit and fissure sealants and topical fluorides

A survey of 2,800 general dentists from six licensing regions was conducted to determine the current rate of pit and fissure sealants and topical fluoride use. The response rate was 56 percent. Seventy percent of general dentists used sealants on newly erupted secondary teeth and 20 percent of general dentists had never used sealants. Sixty-five percent of general dentists used topical fluorides on pedodontic patients at six-months intervals and 25 percent used them at one-year intervals. Dentists with more frequent use of sealants tended to be recent graduates who used new procedures, spent more practice time in pedodontics, came from the central region, had a hygienist in their practice, and belonged to the Academy of General Dentistry. Dentists with more frequent use of topical fluorides tended to perform frequent recall examinations. Those who performed frequent recall examinations were more likely to come from Florida and the Southeast, to believe caries spread rapidly, to be recent graduates, and to have a greater percentage of patients with insurance.