What do systematic reviews say?

Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant vs Fluoride varnish

Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant showed no clear difference in progression of dentinal carious lesions into enamel or dentine compared with fluoride varnish; GRADE not reported.

• Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  OR 0.18 [0.01, 4.27]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported

Glass ionomer or resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant vs Fluoride varnish

• Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1, 2 and 3 years
  SoF2: No evidence of a difference between interventions in caries after 1, 2 and 3 years; 995 (3 studies); Very low. Studies were clinically different so not combined in meta-analyses; 1 study (Tagliaferro 2011)…
  3 studies · 995 participants
  Very low

Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant plus oral health education vs Fluoride varnish plus oral health education

Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant plus oral health… showed no clear difference in change in DMF increment on occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars compared with fluoride varnish plus oral health education; GRADE not reported.

• Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 months · low caries risk
  MD 0.07 [-0.03, 0.17]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported
• Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 months · high caries risk
  MD 0.23 [0.02, 0.44]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported