title: The viability of microorganisms in carious lesions five years after covering with a fissure sealant.
abstract: Carious lesions that were covered with a pit and fissure sealant for five years yielded bacterial cultures that were predominantly negative. Sixteen of 18 test sites judged to have active caries in 1972 were found inactive in 1977; ten of 12 sites suspected to have caries in 1972 were deemed to have inactive caries in 1977. Sealant treatment resulted in an apparent 89% reversal from a caries-active to a caries-inactive state. These data confirm and extend previous observations that a limited number of cultivable organisms persist in some lesions but their numbers are few, and they do not appear capable of continuing the destruction of tooth structure.
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000032:analysis; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003804:Dentin / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000166:cytology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000166:cytology; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003764:Dental Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants