title: Microleakage assessment of pit and fissure sealant with and without the use of pumice prophylaxis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effect of pumice prophylaxis on the level of microleakage around and between the sealant and enamel.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 freshly extracted sound upper first premolars, assigned as suitable for sealant application, were chosen and divided randomly into two groups: (1) a test group, without prophylaxis; and (2) a control group, with prophylaxis. Sealant was applied to all teeth using the same conventional technique, with prophylaxis being omitted in the test group. The sealed teeth were thermocycled (120 x 30 s, 5 and 55 degrees C cycles) and then immersed in 2% Basic Fuchsin solution for 72 h. Each tooth was sectioned and examined for dye penetration under a stereomicroscope (x 60 magnification).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No dye penetration was seen in 19 (29.6%) of the teeth in the test group and 36 (56.2%) of the teeth in the control group. Dye had penetrated to the base of the fissure in 31 (48.4%) of the teeth in the test group and 23 (35.9%) of the teeth in the control group. Using a chi-square test for trend, the frequency of microleakage was significantly higher in the test group compared to the controls (P < 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylaxis has a role in improving sealant retention. Removing this step may cause an increase in microleakage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. koloomi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oloomi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eslami
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000145:classification; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D017640:Silicates; C005144:pumice