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Background/purpose: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) was developed primarily for use in underserved areas of the world. This study was designed to compare caries prevention with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (GIC) sealants placed according to the ART procedure and light-cured composite resin sealants after 3 years., Methods: The study was conducted in a boarding school in the city of Kirikkale. Four experienced dentists placed a total of 207 sealants (91 GIC and 116 composite resin), without chair-side assistance, on the school premises., Results: A total of 137 sealants were available after 3 years. 55.3% of the GIC and 93.8% of the composite resin sealants were lost completely, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Only six of 56 teeth in the GIC group and eight of 81 in the composite resin group showed caries., Conclusion: Under field conditions in which moisture control was not effective, a high-viscosity and less technique-sensitive glass ionomer material can be used as an effective sealant material, rather than resin.