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Home Prevalence of sealant in an Italian paediatric population: an epidemiological study

Prevalence of sealant in an Italian paediatric population: an epidemiological study

Authors:

  • S. Caruso
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • G. F. Ferrazzano
    Paediatric Dentistry section, UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
  • M. Severino
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • A. Fratini
    Private practice in Rome, Italy
  • L. Ralli
    Private practice in Rome, Italy
  • R. Gatto
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • A. Mattei
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • S. Caruso
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2023.24.01.05

ABSTRACT


Aim

The use of sealants is an effective measure for the prevention of pit and fissure caries in children and it has been well documented by several studies In order to plan and establish a preventive national programme, it is important to know the epidemiological pattern in an Italian paediatric population, correlated to the risk of caries, DMFT and other sociodemographic factors.

Methods

This study was conducted on 2,442 children aged between 6 and 12 years attending the paediatric dentistry department of the University of L’Aquila, Italy. In addition to the oral examination, a questionnaire was administered on bad habits and the family perception of sealing. For descriptive analysis, the sample was stratified into two groups based on the presence/absence of at least one tooth with sealant. The differences between discrete and nominal variables, reported as absolute and percentage frequencies, were assessed by applying the χ2 test or the Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Continuous variables were expressed in terms of mean values and their standard deviation(±DS) and the differences between the two groups under consideration were analysed through Student’s t-test. The tests used are two-way and a significance level of 5% was applied. The statistical analysis was carried out using the statistical package STATA/IC 15.0 (StataCorp LLC, Texas, USA).

Results

In this study, the presence of sealants in children is extremely low. The low prevalence of sealants could be attributed to a lack of information and awareness of the population, and probably by the fact that some dentists question the effectiveness and usefulness of sealants for the prevention of caries, despite being a method recommended by the National Guidelines. This hypothesis is supported internationally by several studies conducted on the knowledge and personal opinion of dentists regarding the use of sealants.

Conclusion

The application of sealants to healthy occlusal surfaces is the best aid in preventing the development of caries in these areas, and this is especially important in childhood and adolescence, when the incidence of this pathology is particularly high.

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Publication date:

February /2023

Keywords:

caries, dmft, epidemiology, sealants

Issue:

Vol.24 – n.1/2023

Page:

30 – 35

Publisher:

Ariesdue

Topic:

Paediatric restorative dentistry

Cite:


Harvard: S. Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, M. Severino, A. Fratini, L. Ralli, R. Gatto, A. Mattei, S. Caruso (2023) "Prevalence of sealant in an Italian paediatric population: an epidemiological study", European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 24(1), pp30-35. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2023.24.01.05
Vancouver: S. Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, M. Severino, A. Fratini, L. Ralli, R. Gatto, A. Mattei, S. Caruso. Prevalence of sealant in an Italian paediatric population: an epidemiological study. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry [Internet]. 2023Feb.24 [cited 2023Mar.21];24(1):30-35. Available from: https://www.ejpd.eu/abstract-pubmed/prevalence-of-sealant-in-an-italian-paediatric-population-an-epidemiological-study/
MLA: S. Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, M. Severino, A. Fratini, L. Ralli, R. Gatto, A. Mattei, S. Caruso Prevalence of sealant in an Italian paediatric population: an epidemiological study. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. 2023;24(1):30-35

Copyright (c) 2021 Ariesdue

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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    Editor in chief: dott. Luigi Paglia
    European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © | ISSN (Online): 2035-648X
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