Microleakage of three different sealants on sound and questionable occlusal surfaces of permanent molars: an in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
This was to evaluate the microleakage of 3 different sealants, applied on sound and questionably carious occlusal surfaces with and without a bonding agent.


METHODS
A total of 120 human molars were selected, photographed with a digital video microscope, and assigned by 3 independent examiners, according to the criteria of ICDAS II, in 2 groups of 60 teeth each. Group A: teeth with deep, clear, sound occlusal surfaces (ICDAS II, code 0). Group B: teeth with questionable occlusal surfaces, having deep, stained pits and fissures with probable incipient, but non-cavitated carious lesions (ICDAS II, codes 1 and 2). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups of 30 teeth each (bonding or no bonding) and then into 3 subgroups of 10 teeth each according to the type of sealant used: one conventional (Conseal) and 2 fluoridated (Conseal F and Teethmate F). After the application of the bonding agent and the sealant to the appropriate teeth, all specimens were subjected to thermal cycling and immersed in a 10% methylene blue dye solution for 4 hours. Average and summed microleakage for each sample were estimated from dye penetration scores on 3 mesiodistal sections of the tooth across the sealed occlusal surface. Non-parametric Friedman's 2-way ANOVA by ranks and Conover-Inman pair wise comparisons were used for differences at the 0.05 level of significance.


RESULTS
According to Friedman's 2-way ANOVA by ranks analysis, although there were no significant differences between the different sealants (chi(2) = 0.048, df = 2, P = .976), there were significant differences between the sound and questionably carious occlusal surfaces (chi(2) = 24, df = 3, P = .000). Conover- Inman pair wise comparisons showed no differences between the groups using and not using bonding agents, on sound (SNB-SWB, P = .4561) or questionable occlusal surfaces (QNB-QWB, P = .0842).


CONCLUSIONS
Sealant microleakage on questionably carious occlusal surfaces was statistically significantly higher than that of sound occlusal surfaces. Using a bonding agent or fluoridated FS did not influence microleakage significantly, either on sound or on questionable fissured surfaces.
Michalaki
M G
MG
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, 22 Kodrou str. 15231 Halandri, Athens, Greece.
Oulis
C J
CJ
Lagouvardos
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003763:Dental Leakage; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008963:Molar; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides