Prevalence Of Fissure-Sealants Among German Young Adults In 1992, 1996 And 1999 V. Müller-Lessmann*, C. Ganss, T. Assmann And J. Klimek (Dental Clinic, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany) Fissure sealants have been proved to be effective in preventing occlusal caries in children. In 1992 fissure sealants became part of the preventive procedures covered by german health insurances for 6- to 19- year-old juveniles. Before that fissure sealants were performed rarely in general dentistry in Germany. Therefore it was the aim of this study to evaluate if fissure sealants have succeeded as preventive measure.   In the years 1992 (n= 265), 1996 (n= 275) and 1999 (n= 362) German army recruits with a mean age of 20.9±1,7, 20.4±1,8 and 20.8±1.6 years were clinically examined by three calibrated dentists under standardized conditions.   In spite of a continuous increase of the rate of fissure sealants from 1992 to 1999, in 1999 only in 27 % of all subjects fissure sealants were found. Premolars were sealed more rarely than first molars or second molars (see table).     First Molar Second Molar Premolars 1992 0.1% 0.3% 0.1% 1996 6.1% 7.5% 1.7% 1999 10.1% 12.2% 2.6%   41.8 % of all subjects had only one or two sealants, 22.4 % had three or four sealants and 26.5 % had five to eight sealants. More than eight fissure sealants were found in 9.2 % of the subjects. Fissure sealants were more frequent in subjects with high education level (46.9 %) than in such with medium (33.3 %) or low education level (19.8 %). However this was not statistically significant. Comparing the mean number of occlusal restorations and occlusal carious lesions in subjects with and without fissure sealants no statistically difference was evident.   It can be concluded, that the rate of fissure sealants in Germany still seems to be low. Further research should evaluate whether the effectiveness of sealants in children is maintained in adolescents.