Dental Sealings in a Group of Young Adults with Occlusal Stains – A One Year Follow up Study

Abstract

Aim and objectives: The aim of the present study is to determine the rate of survival of dental sealings applied in a group of young adults (mean age 24) on lateral teeth which present occlusal stains that cannot be clinically diagnosed as caries. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 21 patients with 111 teeth to be sealed. After performing the sealings, the follow up was recorded in two sessions at 6 and 12 months, investigating the integrity of the dental sealings and any modification of the occlusal stains. Results: We recorded a global percentage of complete presence of sealings at 1 year of 92.79%. No sealing was completely lost and none of the occlusal stains under the sealings presented visible signs of evolution towards cavity. Conclusion: Dental sealing can be a viable and conservative option in young adults with occlusal stains that cannot easily be diagnosed as dental caries.