Clinical and SEM assessment of ART high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants after 8-13 years in 4 teeth.
OBJECTIVE
Resin composite sealants are retained longer than low-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants. Nevertheless, a systematic review showed that there is no evidence that resin composite sealants are superior to low-viscosity glass-ionomers in preventing dentine carious lesion development. This case study aimed to investigate reasons for this.


METHODS
4 teeth were sealed with 2 brands of high-viscosity glass-ionomer according to the ART technique in 2 children aged 10 and 11.5 years, having a low caries-risk status, and followed clinically for between 8 and 13 years. At the final year, impressions were taken for SEM images that were assessed by two evaluators.


RESULTS
Pits and fissures that were clinically diagnosed as free of sealant material appeared to contain remnants of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealant material in the deeper parts of pits and fissures, on SEM images of 3 teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the likelihood that remnants of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealant material are retained and block the deeper parts of pits and fissures even after the sealant appears to have disappeared clinically, exercising their carious lesion preventive effect.
Frencken
J E
JE
Department of Global Oral Health, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, College of Dental Sciences, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.frencken@dent.umcn.nl
Wolke
J
J
D002648:Child; D057087:Dental Atraumatic Restorative Treatment; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000473:pathology; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023861:Photography, Dental; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014783:Viscosity
D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; C110713:fuji IX; C110712:ketac-molar