Atraumatic restorative treatment - glass ionomer sealants survival after a postgraduate training program in Ecuador: 2-year follow-up

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the survival of atraumatic restorative treatment high-viscosity glass ionomer sealants (ART-hvGIS) and its relationship with carious lesions incidence in underserved communities of Ecuador. A total of 483 first permanent molars with ART-hvGIS were included after treatment, in which fifteen students of the First Preventive Dentistry Post Graduate Program of Universidad Central del Ecuador assisted 176 schoolchildren, from 5 to 12 year-old. All the students had previously participated in a training course in ART approach. After one and two years follow-up, schoolchildren were reevaluated in relation to sealants retention and new carious lesions development. After first year of evaluation ART-hvGIS retention rate was about 30% and after second year 20%. Incidence of carious lesions was 4.0 and 3.4% after first and second periods, respectively. Although there was an extensive ART-hvGIS loss, carious lesions incidence was low in both the periods of evaluation. ART-hvGIS might be an important key to prevent tooth decay in underserved communities.