This article reports results of a study of 563 practicing Minnesota and Wisconsin dental hygienists' knowledge, opinions, and use of pit and fissure sealants. The study was carried out six months prior to the 1983 NIH Consensus Development Conference on Dental Sealants in the Prevention of Tooth Decay. It therefore provides baseline information for two states prior to the initiation of widespread public information about the positive value of sealants that occurred as a result of that conference. Such baseline information is relevant for future studies of the diffusion of adoption of this caries-preventive technology by dental hygienists. Two independent samples were selected randomly from the populations of licensed dental hygienists residing in the two states. Data were collected using a 42-item mailed questionnaire, with an 84 percent response. Data were analyzed for both interstate and intrastate comparisons. Respondents were generally knowledgeable and had favorable opinions about sealants, although they had low levels of training in their use. Sealants were being used in 54 percent of the offices in which respondents practiced, with the dentist placing them most often. Among hygienists who applied sealants at all, more than two-thirds did so three or fewer times per week. Eighty-four percent indicated they would like to apply sealants more often. The most frequent reasons given for nonuse were lack of acceptance by the dentist-employer and nondelegation.

This article reports results of a study of 563 practicing Minnesota and Wisconsin dental hygienists' knowledge and opinions about fluorides and water fluoridation. Two independent samples were selected randomly from the populations of licensed dental hygienists residing in the two states. Data were collected using a pretested, 42-item, mailed questionnaire. An 84 percent response was achieved with two followup reminders. These data provide baseline information about the caries prevention knowledge and attitudes of practicing dental hygienists in two states. Respondents from both states held similar levels of knowledge about fluorides and opinions about decision making on fluoridation. Fluoride topics, especially water fluoridation, were not receiving high priority in patient education, although nearly all believed that dental hygienists should promote water fluoridation actively. Two-thirds of respondents from both states believed fluoridation decisions should be made by health authorities, rather than by elected officials or through public vote. Greater attention to patient education about fluoride and community water fluoridation is needed by dental hygienists.