Comparison between visual clinical examination and the replica method for assessments of sealant retention over a 2-year period

Abstract

By taking regular casts of teeth, dentists could more easily monitor sealant retention over time, according to research from China. Dental sealants gradually deteriorate in the mouth and require careful observation by dentists. Human error and reflections from bright lights, however, can interfere with results during visual clinical examinations. Taking casts of teeth periodically to spot deterioration has proved useful for other dental treatments. To establish whether replica casts are useful for tracking sealant retention, Ming-Wen Fan and co-workers at Wuhan University, together with scientists from the Netherlands, compared the two observation methods in a study of 370 patients with sealed teeth over two years. They found that taking regular casts of the teeth allowed dentists to assess sealant levels more accurately and reliably than by using traditional visual examinations.

Keywords

clinical examination / replica method / sealant retention / sealant

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