The Burden and Management of Dental Caries in Older Children.

Dental caries is endemic in children and adolescents and has significant morbidity. This complex and chronic disease has both genetic and environmental etiologic factors. In children the preponderance of caries affects tooth surfaces with pits and fissures despite these representing only a small portion of the tooth surfaces that are at risk. Pit and fissure sealants are effective in preventing and managing noncavitated caries lesions in these surfaces. A variety of materials are clinically effective, and health care guidelines recommend the use of pit and fissure sealants as part of a comprehensive dental caries prevention program.