Effect of etching on leakage of sealants placed after air abrasion.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the microleakage of pit and fissure sealants in: 1) air-abraded molars with and without etching and 2) in preventive resin restorations (PRR) prepared with air abrasion or mechanically with a bur.


METHODS
Forty molars with no or minimal occlusal caries were cleaned with pumice, washed, and assigned to four groups of 10 teeth each. In group A, the teeth were air-abraded and Helioseal was applied directly to the fissures without previous treatment. Group B was air-abraded and etched for 20 s prior to sealant application. In group C, caries was excavated with air abrasion, etched, and restored with Scotchbond Multipurpose, Z-100 and Helioseal. Group D was similar to C except that the fissures were prepared mechanically with a carbide bur at high speed.


RESULTS
Group A was significantly different in both Y1 and Y2 measurements from all the other groups. No differences were observed between all the other groups. Acid etching should be a precondition before sealant application. Air abrasion and mechanical preparation resulted in the same amount of microleakage following acid etch.
Zyskind
D
D
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Zyskind
K
K
Hirschfeld
Z
Z
Fuks
A B
AB
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000388:Air; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000209:etiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D019279:Resin Cements; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D015040:Zirconium
D003188:Composite Resins; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D019279:Resin Cements; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C084018:Scotchbond Multi-Purpose; C083568:Z100 composite resin; C059908:Helioseal; C025485:basic fuchsin; D002244:Carbon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015040:Zirconium