Is it effective and cost-effective to seal dental caries instead of "drilling and filling"?

The past 5 years, there is gaining evidence that occlusal dental caries can be inhibited or stopped by sealing the lesion rather than removing all carious tissue and placing a restoration.



This study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sealing occlusal ICDAS 3 and 4 lesions by comparing the sealing method with care as usual (placing a restoration).

Dental caries lesions (with ICDAS Codes 3 and 4) can be treated by sealing, offering a less invasive and less costly treatment option with the same results as preparation and restoration of the carious lesions.

T=0: start of intervention

T=1: control after 12 months

T=2: end of the trial

Intervention group:

cleaning occlusal surface with rotating brush pumice, isolation of tooth (rubberdam), placement of resin-based sealant after etching



Control group (care as usual)

local anesthetic, isolation (rubberdam), preparation / excavation with rotating instruments, restoration with composite resin or compomer restoration material.