The use of pit and fissure sealants in private dental practices

Ninety percent of a stratified sample of 240 general dentists and thirty-two pedodontists in fulltime private practice in Iowa responded to a questionnaire about the use of sealants, attitudes and knowledge about sealants, and reasons for not using sealants. Approximately a third of the generalists and a half of the pedodontists use sealants regularly. Many negative attitudes about sealants were found, as well as a large degree of misinformation about them. Most dentists not using sealants thought that they did not last long or that amalgam restorations were more economical.