title: Sealed restorations: 4-year results.
abstract: The overall objective of this clinical study was to determine the feasibility of using a sealed composite restoration to arrest caries. This objective was to be achieved using minimal tooth preparation for Class I lesions, without the traditional Class I cavity preparation and without the removal of the carious lesion. The minimal tooth preparation consisted of no [corrected] removal of the carious lesion, bevel in enamel only, and usually not requiring any anesthetic injection. These ultra-conservative sealed composite restorations placed over caries (CompS/C) were compared with ultra-conservative sealed amalgam restorations (AGS) and with the traditional (unsealed) amalgam restorations (AGU). This study showed that: 1) caries is arrested under the CompS/C restoration for a period of 4 years; 2) sealant retention is similar in both the CompS/C and the AGS groups; 3) the marginal integrity of the AGS restorations is markedly superior to that of the AGU restorations; and 4) sealant appears to prevent wear of posterior composite restorations.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mertz-Fairhurst
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mackert
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sherrer
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wenner
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Q B
authors.initials: QB
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003188:Composite Resins; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D003723:Dental Amalgam