title: Evaluation of different methods for cleaning and preparing occlusal fissures.
abstract: The effectiveness of different methods for cleaning and preparing occlusal fissures before placing sealants was evaluated. Extracted mandibular molars received such treatments as brushing, pumicing, bur preparing, and air abrasion before application of fissure sealants. FluroShield fissure sealant was then applied to the occlusal fissures. Specimens were subjected to thermo-cycling and then immersed in a 10% solution of methylene blue, and finally sectioned. The sections were examined and photographed in a stereomicroscope, and the dye penetration was recorded using a scoring system. The results indicated that only the control (brushing with a dry brush) and the pumicing groups demonstrated dye penetration to the base of the sealant. Teeth prepared with the #1/4 round bur and air abrasion demonstrated a better seal in evaluated fissures. For this study, those three groups (occlusal fissures prepared with the #1/4 round bur and two air abrasion methods), demonstrated significantly better sealing (P < 0.01) than the control group and the other groups tested.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Augusta 30912-1260, USA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Summitt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Godoy
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D017640:Silicates; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D017640:Silicates; C005144:pumice