• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.415-422
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• 2003

Currently, 'National program of dental sealant' has begun in Korea, but various isolation techniques and preparation is performing. The aim of the present study was to compare pit and fissure sealant retention rates between different operators using two different isolation techniques. Additionally, the failed surface was examined. One examiner performed the examination after one year of the initial operation. The population consisted of 119 children(mean age $8.59{\pm}0.772$) of which the total sealed number was 279 permanent first molars. Pediatric dentists sealed 131 molars using the rubber dam isolation technique (Group 1), general practitioners sealed 80 molars using the rubber dam isolation technique (Group 2), and dental hygienists sealed 69 molars using the cotton roll isolation (Group 3). The results were as follows ; 1. The complete retention rate between Group 1 (90.8%) and 2 (85.0%) showed no significant statistical difference (P>0.05). However, there were significant statistical different retention rates between Group 1 and Group 3(64.7%) and between Group 2 and Group 3 (p<0.05). 2. In comparing retention rates between maxilla and mandible, Only Group 3 showed a significantly lower complete retention rate in mandible than maxilla (p<0.05). 3. In failed surface analysis, occlusal failed surface was 58.3%, buccal/palatal failed surface was 41.7%.