The fact that the majority of the included studies are from the 1970 s
raises an number of questions. Was the research of that decade better
than the current research? Or was less published but of better quality?
On the other hand, from a clinical perspective, does the baseline caries
prevalence affect the effectiveness and cost–benefit ratio of sealants?
How valid are recommendations made for materials that are no longer
in the market? What is the effectiveness of the current materials? The
fact that the majority of the studies came from that decade agrees with
the Cochrane systematic review of dental sealants,
1
as do the authors
recommendations of the need for well-designed clinical trials that
include cost–benefit analysis taking into consideration the actual
prevalence of caries. There is also a need to answer which groups
receive the greatest benefits from this intervention.