title: The effect of different etching times on the retention of fissure sealants in second primary and first permanent molars.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of different etching times on the retention of fissure sealants in second primary and first permanent molars. Eighty-four children with a total of 144 second primary molars and 264 first molars were included in the study. Etching times of 15, 30, 45 and 60 seconds were used. The fissure sealants were evaluated at 6 and 12 months. The results showed that the overall retention rate of fissure sealants in second primary molars was 73.0% at 6 months and 64.7% at 12 months, whereas in first permanent molars the retention rates were 60.7% at 6 months and 44.1% at 12 months respectively. There was no significant difference in the retention of fissure sealants either on second primary molars or on first permanent molars at a 6- and 12-month follow-up with the different etching times. It was concluded that the different etching times did not appear to affect the retention of fissure sealants on the first permanent molars or second primary molars. It might therefore be prudent to etch the teeth for a much shorter period than conventionally recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Dental Health, Leeds Dental Institute, UK.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Duggal
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tahmassebi
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Toumba
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavromati
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D015588:Observer Variation; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants