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.
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, 22 Kodrou str. 15231 Halandri, Athens, Greece.
M G
MG
Michalaki
C J
CJ
Oulis
P
P
Lagouvardos
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