title: Assessment and comparison of microleakage of a fluoride-releasing sealant after acid etching and Er: YAG laser treatment - An in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to estimate and compare the microleakage of a pit and fissure sealant after etching and Er:YAG laser treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty non-carious premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were equally divided into two groups. Samples in Group- I were treated with 37% phosphoric acid. Samples in Group II were irradiated with Er: YAG laser at 400 mJ at 4 Hz. Sealant was placed and light cured. Then, the samples were subjected to thermocycling. The samples were then immersed in 1% methylene blue. The samples were sectioned and examined under stereomicroscope at ×10 magnification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acid etched samples showed significantly less microleakage when compared to laser etching and it was statistically significant (P<0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
authors.forename: V Arun Prasad
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: N Venugopal
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sugumaran
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mohan