Efficacy of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Varnish in Preventing Occlusal Caries in Permanent Molars: A 12-Month Trial

Preventing occlusal caries in children is a critical component of oral health management, given the susceptibility of newly erupted permanent molars to decay. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of resin-modified glass ionomer varnish in preventing occlusal caries in newly erupted first permanent molars over a 12-month clinical trial. Materials and Methods: A split-mouth randomized clinical trial was conducted with 59 children aged 6–8 years, analyzing 86 pairs of newly erupted first permanent molars. Vanish™ XT (resin-modified glass ionomer varnish) was applied to one molar (Varnish Group), while the contralateral molar was left untreated (Control Group). Outcomes were evaluated using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) at 6 and 12 months. Results: The Varnish Group showed significantly better outcomes, with 96.51% of teeth remaining caries-free at 6 months and 90.7% at 12 months. In contrast, the Control Group had only 73.26% and 56.98% caries-free teeth at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed the efficacy of Vanish™ XT (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Vanish™ XT demonstrated superior effectiveness in preventing occlusal caries compared to untreated teeth.