Summary of findings 1. Resin‐based fissure sealant compared with fluoride varnish for preventing dental caries.
| Resin‐based fissure sealant compared with fluoride varnish for preventing dental caries | ||||||
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Population: children and adolescents Setting: preventive dentistry Intervention: resin‐based fissure sealant applications on occlusal tooth surfaces of permanent first molars Comparison: fluoride varnish applications on occlusal tooth surfaces of permanent first molars | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | Number of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Fluoride varnish | Resin‐based fissure sealant | |||||
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Dentine caries in permanent molars (yes/no) Follow‐up: 2–3 years |
228 per 1000 | 63 fewer per 1000 (from 32 more to 129 fewer) |
OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.37 to 1.19) |
1683 (4 studies) |
⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very lowa,b,c |
Data from 1 other study measuring DMFS and DMFT suggested a very small benefit for fissure sealants at 2‐year follow‐up. 4‐ and 9‐year data came from 1 study at high risk of bias and suggested a benefit for fissure sealants. |
| Adverse effects | None reported | |||||
| *The basis for the assumed risk was the median risk in the fluoride varnish group. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI) CI: confidence interval; DMFS: decayed, missing and filled permanent surfaces; DMFT: decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth; OR: odds ratio. | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. | ||||||
aDowngraded one level as studies at high risk of detection bias. bDowngraded one level due to severe heterogeneity (I2 = 84%). cDowngraded one level for imprecision.