Pit and Fissure Sealants: An Underutilized Preventive Technology

Abstract

The dramatic decrease in dental caries among children in the United States has been well documented and widely reported. In the early 1970s, only approximately 28% of children were free of dental caries; by 1980, this figure increased to 36.6% (53). The most recent national survey results reported by the National Institute of Dental Research found approximately 50% of all school children to be free of caries (50).