2013 Volume 56 Issue 4 Pages 370-376
Purpose: There have been few reports about the inhibition of demineralization in pits and fissures with unique configurations. Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler can release several types of ions, mainly fluoride ion, and can therefore display anti-demineralization and remineralization effects. This study investigated the in vitro effects of S-PRG filler containing light-cured, resin-based sealants on the demineralization of the neighboring artificial enamel grooves. Methods: Enamel discs, 5 mm in diameter, from bovine incisors, were covered with dentin-bonding agent. Three grooves, 250 μm wide and 500 μm deep, perpendicular to the outer surface, were made with a diamond wire saw, with 1.0 mm distance between the groove margins. Each sealant was placed into the first groove at one end of each disc. Four sealants were tested (n=6 each): (1) CONT, Palfique Light Sealant, containing no fluoride; (2) TMT, Teethmate F-1_<2.0>, containing fluoride; (3) BTS, BeautiSealant, containing S-PRG filler; and (4) FL, Fuji III LC, a resin-modified, glass-ionomer-based sealant. The specimens with each sealant were immersed in a demineralization gel (0.1 mol/l lactic acid, pH 4.6) for 10 days at 37℃. Transverse microradiography was used to assess mineral content profiles and integrated mineral loss (IML: vol%×μm) in four regions: 1) the groove nearest the filled groove, designated Groove-1 (G1); 2) the farther as Groove-2 (G2); 3) the area near the orifice (O) of each groove; and 4) the 250 μm area below the O as the middle area (M). Statistical differences were analyzed by the Games-Howell and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: IML was significantly higher in the O than in the M area (p<0.05), except for BTS (G1) and FL (G1 and G2). This result reproduces the environment of a natural groove that retards the diffusion of hydrogen ion toward the bottoms of grooves. In G10, the IML of BTS was significantly less than that of CONT or TMT. The IML of FL showed the least among the test materials groups in all areas. Conclusion: BeautiSealant containing S-PRG filler had the anti-demineralization ability of artificial enamel grooves close to the material.
