J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2012 Dec;36(4):289-296.

Caries preventive effect of permanent teeth using pit and fissure sealant program and community water fluoridation program

• Ahn SH
• You HY
• Kim MJ
• Han DH
• Kim JB
• Jeong SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries preventive effects of oral health programs composed of pit and fissure sealant and community water fluoridation in Hapcheon-Up, Hapcheon-Gun, the Republic of Korea.
METHODS
Dental surveys were conducted on 6 to 14 year old children at Hapcheon-Up, Hapcheon-Gun in 2000 and 2009, respectively. The number of the subjects was 1,957 and 1,535 children in 2000 and 2009, respectively. The percentage of samples among total population aged 6 to 14 years in 2000 and 2009 was 90.6% and 92.3%, respectively. The obtained data from these surveys were analyzed with the PASW statistical package version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The 2009 dental health data including the prevalence of dental caries and fissure sealants on children's permanent teeth was compared to the 2000 dental health data, and assessed using chi-square test and independent-sample t-test.
RESULTS
DMF rate of 12-year olds was 76.9% in 2000, and it significantly decreased to 42.5% in 2009. DMFT index of 12-year olds was 3.03 in 2000, and it significantly decreased to 1.07 in 2009. The prevalence rate of sealed permanent teeth among the 12-year olds was 15.4% in 2000, and it significantly increased to 97.2% in 2009. The caries reduction rate from pit and fissure sealant added by community water fluoridation program was calculated as 44.7% in 12-year olds by the difference of DMFT index between 2000 and 2009 year. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both programs were associated with an increasing likelihood of experiencing no dental caries (OR=4.00, 95% CI; 3.23-4.95).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the oral health program composed of pit and fissure sealant and community water fluoridation in Hapcheon was very effective in caries prevention. The program should be expanded to other area to prevent dental caries among children.

Keyword

Dental caries prevention; DMF index; DMF rate; Fluoridation; Oral health program; Pits and fissure sealant

MeSH Terms

Aged
Chicago
Child
Dental Caries
DMF Index
Fluoridation
Humans
Logistic Models
Oral Health
Pit and Fissure Sealants
Prevalence
Tooth
Pit and Fissure Sealants

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distribution of subjects according to each DMFT index (2000, 2009 year).

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