Introduction

Dental caries, a multifactorial disease continues to be prevalent among children and adolescents, particularly in underserved populations. According to the 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report from the Center for Disease Control, , about 50% of children aged 6–9 had one or more decayed, filled, or missing primary or permanent teeth. Disparities exist with socioeconomic factors such as race and economic status.¹ Pit and fissure sealants have been used for many years as an effective and integral component of a preventive dentistry care plan. Despite early controversy regarding effectiveness, safety and retention rates, pit and fissure sealants have been used to prevent occlusal caries in children and adolescents. However, this effective intervention has been underused, with socioeconomic factors being the main barriers.² Two main types of sealants, resin based and glass ionomer, provide clinicians with several variations and options for application. Public health and school-based sealant programs have been effective in reaching underserved populations. On-going research continues to support the use of pit and fissure sealants compared to no sealants as an effective means of preventing dental caries in children and adolescents.³