In Vitro Study of Pit and Fissure Sealant

Part 1: Effect of Marginal Sealing and Penetration into Pit and Fissure of Sealant Materials

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare 3 methods of pit and fissure cleaning technique, and 2 types of sealant materials. Twelve extracted human premolars which were devided into 3 groups, and each group, consisting of 4 teeth, was treated with different cleaning techniques. Of each group,2 teeth were treated with chemically cured White Sealant, and the other 2 teeth were treated with light cured White Sealant.
After the thermal cycling test, these specimens were dyed with 0.5% basic fuchsine, sectioned, and then dyed again with 0.5 % methylene blue. The marginal sealing effect and penetration into pit and fissure of sealant material were observed and evaluated.
The results obtained were as follows;
1. In the teeth sealed with the chemically cured type of sealant, specimens cleaned with the air scaler had a greater frequency of marginal leakage than the others. The teeth sealed with the chemically cured type had a greater frequency of marginal leakage than those treated with the light cured type, and this was statistically significant.
2. The angle at the sealant margin, which was composed of the sealant and enamel surface line, tended to be wider in the teeth sealed with the chemically cured type than in those sealed with the light cured type.
3. No sealant material penetrated perfectly into deep narrow fissures. No significant differences existed among all groups with respect to penetration into pit and fissure of sealant materials.