Five-Year Evaluation of SS-Suction: A Moisture Control Innovation for Dental Sealant Application by Dental Nurses Without Assistants in Children Aged 6–8 Years
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the 5-year effectiveness of the SS-suction (moisture control device) in maintaining sealant retention and preventing dental caries when used without dental assistance.
Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study with a cross-sectional follow-up study was conducted among children who received pit and fissure sealants using the SS-suction in 2020. Data were collected using questionnaires and clinical examination forms. Quality control included validation and reliability testing of the questionnaire and examiner calibration.
Results: A total of 105 children were examined at the 5-year follow-up, including 157 teeth, with an average of 1.5 teeth examined per child. This corresponded to follow-up rates of 58.7% for participants and 59.0% for teeth. Sealant retention outcomes showed 11.5% full retention, 59.2% partial loss, and 29.3% total loss. Caries was detected on 14.0% of sealed surfaces, while 86.0% remained caries-free. Binary logistic regression revealed that teeth with total sealant loss were 5.9 times more likely to develop caries (p-value<0.05). Additionally, children with a plaque index ≥2 were 4.8 times more likely to have caries than those with lower scores (p-value<0.05). Furthermore, females were 3.7 times more likely to develop dental caries than males (p-value<0.05). No significant associations were found with oral hygiene practices or daily consumption of snacks and sweetened beverages.
Conclusion: This study shows better retention over a 5-year period than other studies conducted within the country. This suggests that the SS-suction can assist dental nurses with moisture control and sealant quality for long-term caries prevention.
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