title: Comparison of six different methods of cleaning and preparing occlusal fissure surface before placement of pit and fissure sealant: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the microleakage of pit and fissure sealants after using six different preparation techniques: (a) brush, (b) pumice slurry application, (c) bur, (d) air polishing, (e) air abrasion, and (f) longer etching time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 60 caries-free first premolars extracted for orthodontic purpose. These teeth were randomly assigned to six groups of 10 teeth each. Teeth were prepared using one of six occlusal surface treatments prior to placement of Clinpro" 3M ESPE light-cured sealant. The teeth were thermocycled for 500 cycles and stored in 0.9% normal saline. Teeth were sealed apically and coated with nail varnish 1 mm from the margin and stained in 1% methylene blue for 24 hours. Each tooth was divided buccolingually parallel to the long axis of the tooth, yielding two sections per tooth for analysis. The surfaces were scored from 0 to 2 for the extent of microleakage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results obtained for microleakage were analyzed by using t-tests at sectional level and chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the group level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of round bur group were significantly superior when compared to all other groups. The application of air polishing and air abrasion showed better results than pumice slurry, bristle brush, and longer etching time. Round bur group was the most successful cleaning and preparing technique. Air polishing and air abrasion produced significantly less microleakage than traditional pumice slurry, bristle brush, and longer etching time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government College of Dentistry, Indore, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shigli
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental / Q000379:methods; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000145:classification; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019243:Enamel Microabrasion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008751:Methylene Blue; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C500418:Clinpro Sealant; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003188:Composite Resins; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D017640:Silicates; D014867:Water; C005144:pumice; D008751:Methylene Blue