Caries Prevention of Permanent First Molars After 30 months Application of Pit and Fissure Sealant in First Grade Primary School Children in Krathum Bean, Samut Sakhon-การป้องกันฟันกรามถาวรผุหลังจากเคลือบหลุมร่องฟัน 30 เดือนในนักเรียนชั้นประถมศึกษาปีที่หนึ่งของอำเภอกระทุ่มแบน จังหวัดสมุทรสาคร

Abstract

         The study was to evaluate caries prevention on permanent first molars by pit and fissure sealant in all 24 first grade primary schools in Krathum Bean, Samut Sakhon.  It was found that 57.5 percent (916 school children) of the primary school children had 1,991 first permanent molars indicating for pit and fissure sealant (58.3% of all permanent first molars). After 30 months of sealant application, it was found that 64.1 percent of the school children (67.9% of the sealed first primary molars) could be followed. It was found that 16.7 percent of the sealed molars were completely sealed, 52.7 percent partially sealed and 23.5 percent total loss.  In addition, it was also found that 27.5 percent of the sealed molars had caries on the same (occlusal) surface and 5.5 percent on the other surfaces.  The mean DMFT at 30 months after sealant application (0.98, SD1.22 teeth/person)  increased from the baseline (0.22, SD 0.56 teeth/person).  It was concluded that prevention of caries measured by pit and fissure sealant should be supplemented with other caries preventive methods as well as improvement of sealant application skill of the operator.

Key words:  retention of pit and fissure sealant, permanent first molar, caries in permanent teeth, first grade primary school children