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The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of Colorado pediatric and general dentists concerning attitudes toward and use of sealants. The survey results indicated that sealants were used in the following manner by pediatric vs. general dentists, respectively: 1) Routinely 73.4% vs. 40.1%; 2) Occasionally 15.6% vs. 32.6%; 3) Seldom 6.6% vs. 10.0%; 4) Do Not Use 4.4% vs. 17.3%. Reasons for limited or non-utilization of sealants by both groups included: 1) Not covered by insurance; 2) Inadvertent sealing in caries; 3) Do not last; 4) Not cost effective. Delegation of primary responsibility for sealant placement differed as follows between pediatric and general dentists, respectively: 1) Dentist 73.3% vs. 64.8%; 2) Hygienist 0% vs. 17.8%; 3) Assistant 26.7% vs. 17.4%. Continuing education courses on sealants had been attended by 62% of pediatric dentists and 16.9% of their auxiliaries and by 29.1% of general dentists and 6.3% of their auxiliaries. Approximately 50% of pediatric and general dentists expressed an interest in attending sealant courses. This study indicates that: 1) Colorado dentists report a relatively high sealant utilization rate. 2) Pediatric dentists place sealants more frequently than general dentists. 3) The most frequent reason for restricting sealant placement was lack of insurance coverage. 4) A need for continuing education of dentists and auxiliaries exists.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of Colorado general dentists regarding the use of and attitudes toward pit and fissure sealants. The survey consisted of a questionnaire to determine the utilization levels of sealants by general dentists, reasons for limited placement or non-utilization of sealants, whether sealant placement was delegated to dental auxiliaries or not, and if continuing education courses on sealants had been attended by the dentists and/or their dental auxiliaries. A total of 544 completed questionnaires were available for study. The results indicated that sealants were used by 82.7% of the dentists. Approximately 70% of the practitioners reported that they utilized sealants either routinely or occasionally. Reasons for limited placement or non-utilization of sealants were, in descending order: 1) Not covered by insurance; 2) Inadvertent sealing in of caries; 3) Sealants do not last; 4) Sealants too expensive; 5) Not familiar with sealant technique; 6) Sealants not effective. Placement of sealants was delegated as follows: 1) Dentists, 64.8%; 2) Hygienists, 17.8%; 3) Assistants, 17.4%. Continuing education courses had been attended by 29.1% of the dentists surveyed. Only 6.6% of the dentists indicated that their staff had attended continuing education courses on sealant placement. A relatively high percentage of Colorado dentists are utilizing sealants on a frequent basis. Major reasons for limited usage or non-utilization of sealants relates to lack of insurance coverage and concern regarding sealing in of caries. A need for continuing education courses on sealants appears to exist.