Effect of Preparation Technique, Fissure Morphology, and Material Characteristics on the In Vitro Margin Permeability of Pit and Fissure Sealants

Resident: Adam J. Bottrill
Date: 20AUG10
Region: Providence
Article title: Effect of Preparation Technique, Fissure Morphology, and Material Characteristics on the In Vitro Margin Permeability of Pit and Fissure Sealants
Author(s): Selecman, James et al
Journal: Pediatric Dentistry
Page #s: 308-314
Year: V29/No4 Jul/Aug 2007
Major topic: Pit and Fissure Sealants
Minor topic(s): NA
Type of Article: Comparative Study
Main Purpose: To evaluate the effect of material characteristics, preparation techniques and fissure morphology on the microleakage and penetrability of pit and fissure sealants.

Key points in the article discussion:

I General:

A. Pit and fissure caries comprise >80% of all childhood carious lesions.
B. Definition of Sealant: material that is introduced into the occlusal pits and fissures of caries-susceptible teeth forming a micro-mechanically bonded, protective layer, cutting access of caries-producing bacteria from their source of nutrients.


II. Methods:

A. Sealants used:
1. Aegis, Conseal, Admira Seal, Triage, Delton Opaque.
B. 100 extracted permanent molars randomly assigned to 10 groups and sealed.
1. Pumice prophy and air abrasion
C. Following sealant placement:
1. Thermal cycling
2. Dye immersion
3. Invested in Acrylic
4. Sectioned
5. Assessed for dye penetration

II. Results:

A. Aegis showed significantly less leakage than other brands
B. Delton and Triage showed superior sealant penetration.
C. Fissure morphology not significant WRT microleakage but DID effect penetrability (U-type = most penetrable)
D. No correlation between microleakage and sealant penetrability.

III. Conclusions!

A. Material characteristics and fissure morphology were significant factors regarding sealant success while surface preparation did not play a significant role in sealant microleakage or penetrability.


Assessment of article: Shenanigans... seems to me there are huge holes in this study. More than one practitioner placed the sealants and they were not done in the mouth. I'm not sold on the results.