Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this study is to perform a systematic investigation plus meta-analysis into survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations using high-viscosity glass ionomers and to compare the results with those from the 2005 ART meta-analysis. Until February 2010, four databases were searched. Two hundred four publications were found, and 66 reported on ART restorations or sealant survival. Based on five exclusion criteria, two independent reviewers selected the 29 publications that accounted for the meta-analysis. Confidence intervals (CI) and or standard errors were calculated and the heterogeneity variance of the survival rates was estimated. Location (school/clinic) was an independent variable. The survival rates of single-surface and multiple-surface ART restorations in primary teeth over the first 2 years were 93% (CI, 91–94%) and 62% (CI, 51–73%), respectively; for single-surface ART restorations in permanent teeth over the first 3 and 5 years it was 85% (CI, 77–91%) and 80% (CI, 76–83%), respectively and for multiple-surface ART restorations in permanent teeth over 1 year it was 86% (CI, 59–98%). The mean annual dentine lesion incidence rate, in pits and fissures previously sealed using ART, over the first 3 years was 1%. No location effect and no differences between the 2005 and 2010 survival rates of ART restorations and sealants were observed. The short-term survival rates of single-surface ART restorations in primary and permanent teeth, and the caries-preventive effect of ART sealants were high. Clinical relevance: ART can safely be used in single-surface cavities in both primary and permanent teeth. ART sealants have a high caries preventive effect

Evaluation of glass ionomer sealants placed according to the ART approach in a community with high caries experience: 1-year follow-up Avaliação de selantes ionoméricos realizados pela técnica do ART em comunidade com alta experiência de cárie: 1 ano de acompanhamento

The aim of this study was to investigate the retention rates and effect on occlusal caries incidence of two glass ionomers used as sealants, placed according to the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach, in a high caries-risk community. A total of 150 newly erupted first molars of 42 schoolchildren, between 6-8 years of age were selected. The teeth were divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, 76 teeth were sealed using Vidrion R-SS White (conventional GIC) and in the control group, 74 teeth were sealed using ChemFlex-Dentsply (high-viscosity conventional GIC). The sealants were applied by one operator following the "press finger technique", described in the ART-WHO manual. Two calibrated independent examiners carried out the evaluation according to the ART criteria. The intra and inter-examiner agreements were 0.84 and 0.81, respectively. Data were submitted to Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests (p<0.05). At the 1-year follow-up, 136 (90.7%) sealants were evaluated. In the control group: 28 (41.8%) of the sealants were partially or completely retained, 38 (56.7%) completely lost, and 1 (1.5%) was replaced by another treatment. In the experimental group, 30 (43.5%) of the sealants were partially or completely retained, 38 (55.1%) were clinically scored as complete loss and 1 (1.4%) were replaced by another treatment. Seven sealants in both groups were not evaluated. Secondary caries was not observed in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the retention (p=0.49) and effect on caries incidence rates for both groups (p=0.84). The clinical performance of the glass ionomer sealants of both groups was considered satisfactory with a high success rate (98.5%). Although the sealants placed according to the ART approach showed retention rates lower than 50% after 1 year in newly erupted first molars, this approach seems to be appropriate for communities with high caries experience.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o índice de retenção e o efeito na incidência de cárie oclusal de dois selantes ionoméricos realizados pela técnica do Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (ART) em comunidades com alto índice de cárie. Foram selecionados 150 primeiros molares recém-erupcionados de 42 escolares, entre 6-8 anos de idade. Os dentes foram divididos em dois grupos: experimental e controle. No grupo experimental 76 dentes foram selados com Vidrion R-SSWhite (CIV-convencional) e no grupo controle, 74 dentes foram selados com ChemFlex-Dentsply (CIV-alta viscosidade). Os selantes foram realizados por apenas um operador pela técnica da "pressão digital", descrita no manual de ART da OMS. Dois avaliadores independentes e calibrados segundo os critérios do ART realizaram a avaliação. A concordância intra e inter-examinadores foi de 0,84 e 0,81, respectivamente. Os resultados foram submetidos aos testes Mann-Whitney e Q-quadrado (p<0,05). Após um ano, 136 (90,7%) selante foram avaliados. No grupo controle, 28 (41,8%) selantes estavam parcial ou completamente retidos, 38 (56,7%) completamente perdidos, 1 (1,5%) foi substituído por outro tratamento. No grupo experimental, 30 (43,5%) selantes estavam parcial ou completamente retidos, 38 (55,1%) foram classificados como completamente perdidos e 1(1,4%) foi substituído por outro tratamento. Sete selantes em ambos os grupos não foram avaliados. A presença de lesão cariosa secundária não foi observada em nenhum dos grupos. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre a retenção (p=0,49) e efeito na incidência de cárie (p=0,84) entre os dois grupos. A performance clínica dos selantes ionoméricos foi considerada satisfatória com um alto índice de sucesso (98,5%). Embora os selantes aplicados de acordo com a técnica ART tenham mostrado índices de retenção abaixo de 50% depois de um ano nos primeiros molares recém-erupcionados, este método mostrou-se apropriado para comunidades com alta experiência de cárie