The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of oral hygiene orientation singly, compared to resin-based sealants in controlling occlusal cavitated enamel lesions on primary and permanent molars. For this, 273 occlusal surfaces of primary molars and 273 occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars on 4-9 years-old children with an enamel cavitated lesion will be selected in 9 cities of Brazil. The surfaces will be randomly divides into 2 groups: oral hygiene orientation and resin-based sealant. The surfaces will be evaluated after 6 and 12 months regarding clinical and radiographic lesions progression. The costs and cost-efficacy of these treatments, children's discomfort, parents'/guardians' satisfaction and impact on quality of life will also be investigated. Poisson regression analysis will be performed in order to compare the groups, through clinical and radiographic criteria. This test will also be used to assess the association between the group and patient discomfort and parents' satisfaction. Time, costs and impact on quality of life of the treatments will be compared by Student's t test. For all analyses, the significance level will be set at 5%.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
546
Surfaces allocated to this group will be treated with resin-based sealant (FluroShield®, Dentsply, United States of America) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Initially, local anesthesia and rubber dam adaptation will be performed. Then, 37% phosphoric acid will be applied on the surface for 30 seconds, followed by spray of water/air for at least 15 seconds. The sealant will be dispensed on the occlusal surface and light cured for 20 seconds (Optilight Max, Gnatus, Brazil).
Surfaces allocated to this group will be treated with sterile water application, as a placebo, without anesthesia and rubber dam. The active treatment in this group will be only oral hygiene orientations.
Jose Carlos Pettorossi Imparato
São Paulo, Brazil
Sealants clinical efficacy
The clinical evaluation will be performed by one blinded examiner. If the surface is sealed, the examiner will classify it according to described by Pardi et al. (2005); if the surface is without material, the examiner will use the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria (Ismail et al., 2007).
Time frame: Every 6 months up to 12 months
Sealants radiographic efficacy
The radiographic evaluation will be performed by two blinded examiners, which will evaluate the four patients' radiographies independently, two by two, without knowing the chronological order of them. The efficacy of the treatment will be related to the presence or absence of increasing radiolucent area. They will also classify each radiograph using Ekstrand criteria (Ekstrand et al., 1997) and analyze them in a software (ImageJ 1.49, National Institute of Health, United States of America) in order to make the radiographic subtraction.
Time frame: Every 6 months up to 12 months
Sealants and oral hygiene orientation costs
Treatment costs will be calculated for each treatment technique considering professional costs and procedure costs. In order to calculate the professional cost, the time spent in each session will be converted in hours and multiplied by the medium income of the dentist per hour as related by the Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment. To estimate the procedure cost, it will be considered both variable cost, which includes electricity and equipment depreciation, and materials cost. To calculate the equipment depreciation (peripherals, dental chair and instrumental), we will consider their price, the lifespan of five years and a monthly use of 160 hours, resulting in an estimate value per hour. All materials used in each procedure will have their quantity registered. Prices will be inferences from the market value converted in US Dollars.
Time frame: Baseline
Sealants cost-efficacy
The costs of each treatment procedure will be calculated and compared with threshold values for intervention cost-effectiveness by region, determined by World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/choice/costs/CER\_levels/en/).
Time frame: Through study completion (12 months)
Impact on children's quality of life of sealants or oral hygiene orientation
The oral health related to quality of life will be measured using a validated questionnaire according to the children's age. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) will be applied with 4-5 years old children and Child Perceptions Questionnaire will be used for 6-9 (CPQ8-10) years old children. They will be applied immediately before the procedure and on 6 months follow-up
Time frame: 6 and 12 months
Children self-reported discomfort
The discomfort of each type of treatment will be evaluated using the facial scale of Wong-Baker (Wong, Baker, 1998). This scale indicates the discomfort of an individual who has to choose among six faces. The first image is a smiling happy face, indicating no discomfort, followed by gradually less cheerful expressions, up to the last one which is a very sad face covered by tears, indicating great discomfort. The participant will be asked to choose the face that is more similar to how he/she felt during the treatment immediately after the procedure. This answer should be given solely by the child, which means no parental or professional interferences.
Time frame: Baseline
Parents' reported satisfaction with treatment
The parents'/guardians' satisfaction with treatment will be evaluated using a questionnaire. It will be applied only at the 6-months follow-up.
Time frame: 6 months
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