Comparative Analysis of Fluoride-Releasing Sealants Versus Conventional Sealants in Preventing Dental Caries

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, remains a prevalent global health concern, particularly among children and adolescents. Sealants are widely used as a preventive measure to protect vulnerable tooth surfaces from caries development. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the comparison of fluoride-releasing sealants versus conventional sealants in preventing dental caries. Material and methods: This randomized control trial was conducted at University of Lahore and different tertiary care units of Lahore from February 2023 to January 2024.Data was collected from 360 patients.  Data was collected through randomization process. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, Group A: fluoride-releasing sealant group, Group B: conventional sealant group.  Dental sealants were meticulously applied to the occlusal surfaces of permanent molars using standard procedures. Those in the fluoride-releasing sealant group received sealants containing fluoride additives, while the conventional sealant group received standard resin-based sealants. Results: Data were collected from 360 patients from both genders. Mean age of the participants in group A was 9.5±1.2 years and 9.7±1.5 years in group B. The comparison of mean caries depths between Fluoride-Releasing Sealants and Conventional Sealants revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Fluoride-Releasing Sealants exhibited a mean caries depth of 1.3 mm (±0.4), whereas Conventional Sealants had a higher mean caries depth of 1.8 mm (±0.5). Conclusion: It is concluded that fluoride-releasing sealants demonstrate superior efficacy compared to conventional sealants in preventing dental caries among pediatric patients. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating fluoride into sealant materials to enhance caries prevention strategies in clinical practice.