Flexural Strength, Elastic Modulus and Remineralizing Abilities of Bioactive Resin-Based Dental Sealants.

Maria Salem Ibrahim,Ahmed A Asseri,Alhareth Abdulaziz Aljouie,Khalid U Alsomaly,Majed M Alzahrani,Jehan Alhumaid,Mana’A S Alabbas,Abdullah A Almansour

doi:10.3390/polym14010061

Abstract

Objective: To assess the remineralizing abilities and compare the flexural strength and elastic modulus of different bioactive pit and fissure sealants. Materials and Methods: Human enamel samples were randomly and blindly sealed with one of the following bioactive materials: BioCoat (Bc), ACTIVA KIDS (Av) and BeautiSealant (Bu). Seal-it (Si) was used as a non-bioactive sealant beside a control blank (B) group with no sealant. The sealed samples were subjected to a pH-cycling model (7 days of demineralization–remineralization cycles). The enamel surface hardness change (SHC), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and polarized light microscopy were used to assess the remineralizing abilities of the studied sealants. Flexural strength and elastic modulus were also assessed following the ISO 4049 protocols. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the results. Results: Bc sealant showed the highest FS and EM (p < 0.05). The contact with Bc and Bu sealants showed significantly lower %SHL (p < 0.05) in comparison to the other. These findings were supported by the results of SEM-EDX and polarized imaging by showing higher percentages of calcium and phosphate ions with the former sealants and thinner demineralized enamel bands. Conclusion: In this study, Bc showed the highest flexural strength. Bc and Bu sealants outperformed the other studied sealants in terms of their remineralization abilities.

Highlights

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutralDental caries is a worldwide multifactorial infectious disease that affects the teeth in the oral cavity, leading to localized structure deterioration
The flexural strength and elastic modulus of the studied sealants are represented in Figures 2 and 3 and Table 2
The enamel samples with no sealant applied showed the highest surface hardness loss followed by the Si group

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries is a worldwide multifactorial infectious disease that affects the teeth in the oral cavity, leading to localized structure deterioration. It is considered one of the most serious public health issues in the field of dentistry [1]. If the dental structure started to demineralize (lose minerals), and the demineralization process was not reversed by remineralization (gaining minerals), caries can proceed and continue progressing. In such cases, treatment should be provided, which may indicate restoring the carious teeth. Low fluoride levels in drinking water and food, living in a low-income family and poor oral hygiene are all risk factors for caries [3,4]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion