A Study of the Penetration of Sealants into Pits and Fissures

Abstract

An investigation was conducted into the penetration of different resin sealants into the pits and fissures of extracted molariform teeth of humans. The results showed that prophylaxis before conditioning and sealant placement only cleaned the cuspal inclined planes and that pits and fissures often remained filled with debris. This was true despite different prophylactic measures. After acidic conditioning of the occlusal site and resin placement, sections of teeth through pits and fissures showed that shallow types of fissures were filled but that deep and constrictive types were not. Residual material in the fissure, air entrapment, and fissure geometry contributed to a limiting of the sealant penetration. No satisfactory clinical means was established to clean the pits and fissures, and attempts at prophylactic odontotomy resulted in residual fissures associated with the preparations. Although the preparations were filled with sealant, the residual fissures were not. Reported clinical successes have occurred despite such variables, and our observations should not serve to condemn this effective preventive measure. An investigation was conducted into the penetration of different resin sealants into the pits and fissures of extracted molariform teeth of humans. The results showed that prophylaxis before conditioning and sealant placement only cleaned the cuspal inclined planes and that pits and fissures often remained filled with debris. This was true despite different prophylactic measures. After acidic conditioning of the occlusal site and resin placement, sections of teeth through pits and fissures showed that shallow types of fissures were filled but that deep and constrictive types were not. Residual material in the fissure, air entrapment, and fissure geometry contributed to a limiting of the sealant penetration. No satisfactory clinical means was established to clean the pits and fissures, and attempts at prophylactic odontotomy resulted in residual fissures associated with the preparations. Although the preparations were filled with sealant, the residual fissures were not. Reported clinical successes have occurred despite such variables, and our observations should not serve to condemn this effective preventive measure.