SynthesisScientific reports2020
Comparison between Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish on Caries Prevention for First Permanent Molars: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Caries prevention in permanent teeth - basic recommendations of the German S 3 guideline.Clinical oral investigations · 2026Guideline
- [Meta-analysis of sealants versus fluoride varnishes for the prevention of occlusal surface caries in children's first permanent molars].Hua xi kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Huaxi kouqiang yixue zazhi = West China journal of stomatology · 2025Pooled it
- Clinical effectiveness of pit and fissure sealants in primary and permanent teeth of children and adolescents: an umbrella review.European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry · 2024Pooled it
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of prophylactic sealing of pits and fissures of permanent teeth with fissure sealants - umbrella review.BMC oral health · 2023Pooled it
- Pit and Fissure Sealant versus Fluoride Varnish for the Prevention of Dental Caries in School Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of clinical practice · 2022Pooled it
- Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Characterisation of a New Bioactive Glass-Containing Fluoride Varnish.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Comparative evaluation of fluoride varnish, pit and fissure sealants in preventing dental caries among children.Bioinformation · 2026Article
- A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Risk factors for and prevention of caries and dental erosion in children and adolescents with asthma.Journal of dental sciences · 2022Review
- Long-term caries prevention of dental sealants and fluoride varnish in children with autism spectrum disorders: a retrospective cohort study.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- The Effectiveness of Fluoride Varnish and Fissure Sealant in Elementary School Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Iranian journal of public health · 2022Review
- Minimally Invasive Therapies for the Management of Dental Caries-A Literature Review.Dentistry journal · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The high prevalence and heavy socio-economic burden for caries of first permanent molars (FPMs) make the prevention of this disease a major public health goal. Current guidelines recommend a preference of fissure sealant (FS) over fluoride varnish (FV) based on two recent systematic reviews. However, evidences of these two studies are weak because of scarce data and some limitations. Besides, an up-to-date large scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) reported commensurate effectiveness of these two techniques. Thus, in order to more accurately compare the clinical efficacy between FS and FV on caries prevention for FPMs, we carried out this systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of 8 RCTs involving 3289 participants and 6878 FPMs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Our meta-analysis for the first time showed that there was no statistical difference on caries incidence or occlusal DMFS increment between sealant group and fluoride varnish group at 2~3 years' follow-up. In that sense, biannual applications of FV or FS may be equally effective on caries prevention for FPMs. These results do not support routine recommendation of FS over FV, thus shedding light on current conceptions. Our findings endow clinicians with a window to reconsider the choice between these two techniques.
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