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Purpose: To evaluate the validity of the visual exam and adjunct diagnostic technologies for posterior permanent teeth under epidemiological conditions., Methods: A probabilistic sample of 165 12-year-old schoolchildren from Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, was examined by visual exam (VI1), visual exam + artificial lighting (VI2), bitewing (BW), fiber optic transillumination (FOTI), DIAGNOdent and the associations among them. The D1+D3 and D3 diagnostics criteria, under epidemiological conditions, were adopted. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated to determine the validity of the exams., Results: The most accurate diagnostic method was VI2+BW exam for all dental surfaces under both diagnostic criteria. It was concluded that the BW was the best adjunct diagnostic technology on epidemiological dental caries surveys, increasing the validity of the dental exams.

Purpose: To evaluate the retention and caries-preventive effectiveness of two ionomeric materials (conventional and resin-modified), used as fissure sealants., Materials and Methods: 100 children (6-8 years old) with a total of 400 permanent first molars received 200 conventional glass-ionomer (Ketac Bond) and 200 resin-modified glass-ionomer (Vitremer) sealants. Additionally, 108 children constituted the control group (432 teeth). Two dentists assisted by dental hygienists performed the sealant application. Clinical evaluations were carried out 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after the sealant application by two other dentists, not carrying out clinical procedures, previously calibrated (Kappa > 0.75)., Results: Total retention rates of 26%, 12%, 3%, and 4% for Ketac Bond and 61%, 31%, 14%, and 13% for Vitremer, being 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after clinical evaluation, respectively. The differences between the two materials were statistically significant. The experimental groups showed a caries incidence of 93%, 78%, 49%, and 56% lower than the control group (P< 0.01) for the four evaluation periods, respectively. In conclusion, the retention rates of ionomeric materials were low. Nevertheless, these materials showed a cariostatic effect, supported by statistically lower caries incidence in experimental groups compared to control group. Presence of active incipient caries was statistically associated with caries incidence in the first molars after 36 months, in relation to either experimental or control group.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of occlusal caries and the rates of retention using Variglass VLC (polyacid-modified resin) as an occlusal sealant., Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 185 school children (6-8 yr-old), with sound unsealed permanent first molars. Sealants were applied on the upper and lower first molars from a randomly chosen hemiarch (N=370 teeth). The follow-up was conducted at 6, 12 and 48 months examining 343 (93%), 290 (78%) and 187 (51%) teeth, respectively., Results: After 48 months, total retention of the material was noted in only 5% of the teeth. The presence of sealant in 2/3 and 1/3 of the pit extension was verified in 8% and 14% of the teeth, respectively, while 73% of the sealed teeth had no sealant present on the occlusal surface. Caries incidence, measured by the presence of dental caries and restorations, was 16% representing an annual increase of 4%.