Dentists’ levels of evidence-based clinical knowledge and attitudes about using pit-and-fissure sealants

Abstract

Although the prevalence of pit-and-fissure sealants in children in the United States is low, the problem is magnified in low-income children. A small proportion of Florida's low-income children receive any preventive dental services, including sealants. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study to assess whether Florida's dentists provide sealants as a preventive measure in their practices, their attitudes and their levels of evidence-based clinical knowledge about appropriate sealant use according to the American Dental Association (ADA) recommendations. The authors also assessed whether the number of years since graduation and reliance on peers or colleagues for regular clinical information were associated with dentists' knowledge. The authors administered a 25-item pretested questionnaire to a convenience sample of general and pediatric dentists (n = 163) at the 2013 Florida National Dental Convention in Kissimmee, Fla. The authors conducted multivariate linear regression modeling to predict dentists' levels of evidence-based clinical knowledge. Years since graduation (P = .2) and reliance on peers or colleagues for regular clinical information (P = .6) did not predict higher knowledge. Male dentists (P = .003) and those who accepted children enrolled in Medicaid as new patients (P = .01) had significantly more knowledge compared with their counterparts. Most participating dentists used sealants in their practices and had high levels of positive attitudes about using sealants. Overall knowledge regarding the appropriate use of sealants, however, was low. For practicing dental professionals, the authors recommend disseminating evidence-based recommendations for the use of dental sealants via continuing education courses and other possible modalities. They also recommend that dental schools update their existing courses or modules about sealants by integrating the ADA's recommendations.