Fissure sealing with Nuva-seal and Alphaseal: two-year data

A double-blind study with Nuva-seal and Alphaseal in contralateral quaurants of the same mouths obtained complete retention rates for Nuva-seal of 94·5 per cent of 293 sealed sites at 1 year and 83·1 per cent of 225 sites by 2 years. The corresponding Alphaseal data was poorer at 89·9 per cent and 78·7 per cent respectively. Only 1 sealed surface (0·2 per cent) was carious at 2 years. Nuva-seal first permanent molar retention was also superior to that of Alphaseal, 93·5 per cent compared to 85·6 per cent at 1 year, and 81·1 per cent compared to 70·1 per cent at 2 years. However, retention in these teeth for 6- to 7-year-old children was inferior to that of 8- to 11-year-old children for both sealants although only the Alphaseal data was significant. This material also had a significantly greater loss rate than Nuva-seal at 6 months and 18 months in 6- to 7-year-old children. The use of Nuva-seal with adequate attention to clinical detail and monitoring of UV sources can thus provide substantial clinical benefit in first permanent molars.