Microleakage of sealants after conventional, bur, and air-abrasion preparation of pits and fissures.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage of unfilled and filled sealants after conventional, bur, and air-abrasion tooth preparation.


METHODS
Seventy-two extracted molars were randomly divided into three groups. In group 1, 24 teeth were prepared by pumicing and acid etching with 37% phosphoric acid. In group 2, 24 teeth were prepared with a 1/4-round bur in a low-speed handpiece and then acid etched. In group 3, 24 teeth were prepared by high-speed (160 PSI) microabrasion using 50 mu alpha alumina particles in a KCP 2000 machine. In each group, 12 teeth were sealed with a filled sealant and 12 teeth with an unfilled sealant. All the teeth were stored in artificial saliva for 7 days and thermocycled for 2000 cycles. Teeth were then sealed apically and coated with nail varnish 1 mm from the margins and stained in 1% methylene blue for 24 h. Each tooth was sectioned in three locations and ranked (0-3) for microleakage.


RESULTS
There were 216 sections and 66% showed no leakage.


CONCLUSIONS
Chi-square statistical analysis of the data led to the following conclusions: 1) superior results were obtained when the tooth surfaces were prepared by a bur, 2) conventionally and KCP 2000-prepared tooth surfaces yielded similar results, and 3) the unfilled sealant was superior to the filled sealant.
Hatibovic-Kofman
S
S
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Wright
G Z
GZ
Braverman
I
I
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000628:therapy*; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008963:Molar; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000737:chemistry; D017640:Silicates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013816:Thermodynamics
D004396:Coloring Agents; D003188:Composite Resins; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D017640:Silicates; C067382:Prismashield; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C005144:pumice; D008751:Methylene Blue