Sealant Retention Research Articles

Retention rate of giomer S-PRG filler containing pit and fissure sealant applied with or without etching: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundPit and fissure sealant is a micro-invasive modality for treating deep and retentive pits and fissures to prevent and/or stop occlusal caries. Every effort needs to be done to enhance sealant retention and survival. The aim of this research is to assess the retention rate of giomer S-PRG filler containing pit and fissure sealant applied with or without etching.MethodsOverall, 52 patients were included in this trial and they were allocated randomly in 2 groups (n = 26). Group 1 (control group) received giomer sealant (Beautisealant, Shofu, Kyoto, Japan) without an etching step, and group 2 (intervention group) received the same but with a separate preparatory etching step before the sealant application. The retention rate of the sealant was assessed over one year at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Intergroup comparison between categorical variables was done using the chi square test, while intragroup comparison was done using Cochran’s q test followed by multiple comparisons. Relative risk was used to evaluate the clinical significance. Survival rate was analyzed using Kaplan-meier and Log-rank test.ResultsIntergroup comparison between both techniques revealed statistically significant difference within different follow up periods (P < 0.05). Intragroup comparison within both giomer sealant with etching group and giomer sealant without etching group revealed statistically significant difference between different follow-up periods (P < 0.001). There was 69% less risk for total loss or partial loss of giomer sealant with etching when compared to giomer sealant without etching after 12 months.ConclusionAn initial preparatory step of etching to the enamel surface is crucial before giomer sealant application to enhance its bonding, increase its retention and promote its survival.Trial registrationTrial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04929782. Registered 14 July 2024 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06509451

Is SDF better than the SMART (silver modified atraumatic restorative technique) in the management of molar incisor hypomineralisation molars with initial caries?

A prospective, randomized, split-mouth clinical study by thetwo previously trained and calibrated pediatric dentists without blinding operators and patients due to different protocols in both treatment groups. An SDF + potassium iodide (KI) and SDF + KI + glass ionmer cement(GIC) on International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) 1/2 molar was received by each patient on either sideof mouth. The local Ethics Committee approved this study. Sample size calculation was not performed due to the lack of published studies on the longevity of SMART sealant on MIH-affected molarsand the absence of research on the apparent difference between the effectiveness of SMART and SDF treatments in preventing further caries and sensitivity. These were children between the ages of 6 years to 13 years, who visited the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at XX University School of Dentistry for routine exams and treatment between July 2019 to May 2020. They were in good health and had at least two fully erupted permanent first molars with MIH as per the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, ICDAS code 1/2. This study recorded 12 months of treatment outcomes on hypomineralised molars of 48 children with a follow-up of three years. Children were excluded with specific syndromes associated with enamel malformation, lack of cooperation, ongoing orthodontic treatment, and teeth with ICDAS 3/4/5/6 lesions, existing restorations, fluorosis, or pulpal symptoms. Mann-Whitney U Test was used to assess differences between independent groups (SDF and SMART) and the Friedman Test between dependent groups at different time points. Kaplan-Meier analysis to evaluate the cumulative survival of SMART sealants and survival of caries-free hypomineralised molars in both groups. Chi-Square test was used to compare the success percentages of the SDF and SMART groups. To assess the changes in success percentages at three different time intervals for the caries preventive effect of SDF and SMART, and to evaluate the retention percentages for the SMART group. McNemar's test with a Bonferroni correction was used for significant differences. Cohen's kappa test indicated that the inter-examiner reliability determining the presence of MIH was 0.87. The intra-examiner reliability for US Public Health Service (USPHS)-Modified criteria was 0.90. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all statistical analyses. At 12, 24 and 36 months the caries preventive effect was 100%, 67.9%, and 65.4% for SDF + KI-treated teeth; and 100%, 97.6%, and 94.7% for SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) respectively. During the recall period, there was no substantial difference in hypersensitivity scores between the groups. There was no hypersensitivity in teeth at 18 months and beyond. Compared to the baseline Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) score 26 molar with initial hypersensitivity to hypomineralisation had a massive reduction at evaluation periods. The mean survival probabilities for the caries-preventive effect were considerably lower in SDF + KI-treated teeth (31.01 months) than in SMART-treated teeth (35.61 months) (p < 0.001). Considering the limitation of the study, both SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants and 6-monthly application of SDF + KI, provided similar and substantial levels of desensitisation on the permanent MIHmolars. When used as a sealing material on non-cavitated permanent MIHmolars, the clinical retention rate for SMART was 88.7%, 73.1%, and 66.6% at 1, 2, and 3 years respectively. The caries preventive effect of SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants was superior to SDF + KI application in hypomineralised teeth, however, a long-term monitoring and review is essential due to the gradual decrease in retention of SMART sealants.

Adhesive Performance of Pit and Fissure Sealants on Deproteinized Enamel with Different Proteolytic Agents: In Vitro Study.

The objective of this work was to assess the efficacy of different proteolytic agents on the bond strength of pit and fissure sealants to bovine enamel. Eighty-four bovine enamel specimens were randomly assigned in groups according to the pit and fissure sealant applied (HelioSeal F or Dyad Flow). Then, the specimens were subdivided according to the proteolytic agent used (n = 7): Group 1, distilled water (control); Group 2, 10 wt.% Tergazyme®; Group 3, 10 wt.% ZYME®; Group 4, 10% papain gel; Group 5, 10% bromelain gel; and Group 6, 5.25 wt.% sodium hypochlorite. The cell viability of the proteolytic solutions was assessed through the MTT assay. The proteolytic agents were applied on the enamel surface prior to the acid-etching procedure; then, the pit and fissure sealants were placed. The micro-shear bond strength was evaluated after 24 h or 6 months of water storing at 37 °C. Representative SEM images were taken for each experimental group. The bond strength data were statistically analyzed by a three-way ANOVA test using a significance level of α = 0.05. Bromelain and papain proteolytic solutions did not exert any cytotoxic effect on the human dental pulp cells. After 24 h and 6 months of aging, for both pit and fissure sealants, sodium hypochlorite, papain, bromelain, and Tergazyme® achieved statistically significant higher bond strength values (p < 0.05). Irrespective of the deproteinizing agent used, Dyad Flow resulted in a better bond strength after 6 months of aging. The type 1 etching pattern was identified for sodium hypochlorite, papain, and bromelain. Tergazyme®, papain, and bromelain demonstrated efficacy in deproteinizing enamel surfaces prior to acid etching, leading to the improved bond strength of pit and fissure sealants. Clinically, this suggests that these proteolytic agents can be considered viable alternatives to traditional methods for enhancing sealant retention and longevity. Utilizing these agents in dental practice could potentially reduce sealant failures.

Evaluation of Clinical Success of Fissure Sealant, Patients’ Preference and Gingival Damage Following Different Isolation Methods in Children: A Randomised Split-mouth Clinical Trial

Introduction: Effective tooth isolation is a key factor affecting the retention and, in turn, the clinical success of fissure sealants. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical success of fissure sealants, patients’ preferences and gingival damage following cotton roll isolation, rubber dam isolation and Mr. Thirsty isolation system in children. Materials and Methods: In this in vivo, split-mouth randomised clinical trial, participants aged 6–11 years requiring sealants on the first permanent molars were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each participant received sealants on three random first permanent molars using three isolation techniques. The method of choosing which tooth to seal using which isolation system was randomly carried out using a computer allocation system. The time required for sealant placement was recorded for each technique. Following sealant placement, participants were given an interview-based questionnaire to evaluate their preference regarding the isolation techniques. The evaluation of clinical success using USPHS criteria was recorded at baseline and followed up for 3, 6 and 9 months. These data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 25 for Windows statistical software. Kruskal–Wallis test was used for intergroup comparison, and for quantitative data between three groups, analyses were done using the Chi-square test with multiple comparison tests. For all statistical analyses, probability levels of P &lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant and P &lt; 0.001 as highly significant. Results: A total of 93 teeth were clinically evaluated at the end of 9 months; of these, significantly higher retention rates were seen in the rubber dam group, where 71% had completely retained sealants and 29% had a partial loss of sealants. The mean chair side times were 1.94 ± 0.31, 3.28 ± 0.32 and 2.44 ± 0.32 for cotton roll, rubber dam and Mr. Thirsty isolation, respectively. Approximately 60% of participants preferred cotton roll isolation over rubber dam and Mr. Thirsty isolation system. (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Cotton roll isolation was the most preferred technique; however, sealant retention was reported to be the best using rubber dam isolation. Mr. Thirsty can be used as a viable alternative in patients where cotton rolls and a rubber dam are contraindicated.

Effect of adhesive system on retention of different sealants: an in vitro study

Effect of adhesive system on retention of different sealants: an in vitro study

Survival Analysis of Glass Ionomer Cement and Resin-Based Sealant Retention: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background and Objective: Sealant application is a proven method to prevent occlusal caries; however, long-term studies on this topic are scarce. This study aimed to assess the survival rate and clinical effectiveness of glass ionomer cement (GIC) and resin-based sealants (RBSs) on second permanent molars over a long-term follow-up period. Materials and methods: Sixteen patients aged 11-13 years with all four completely erupted permanent second molars were enrolled in the study. All patients attended 1-year and 3-year follow-ups; however, one participant did not respond after 10 years and was excluded from the final analyses. The oral health status evaluation was based on WHO criteria. A total of 32 teeth received an RBS (Clinpro), and a further 32 teeth were sealed with GIC (Fuji IX). The sealant retention was determined according to the Kilpatrick criteria after 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years, respectively. Statistical analysis included a chi-square test, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: At baseline, seven boys and eight girls participated in the study, with a mean age of 12.3 ± 0.9 years. The 1-year follow-up results revealed that 90% of the RBSs and 43.3% of the GIC sealants were completely retained, and no caries lesions were recorded (p = 0.01). The 3-year follow-up results showed that 23.3% of the RBSs and 0% of the GIC sealants demonstrated complete retention (p = 0.034). Moreover, 10.0% of the occlusal surfaces in the RBS group and 13.3% of the occlusal surfaces in the GIC group were filled (p > 0.05). A total of 6.7% of the RBSs showed complete retention. One-third of the sealed teeth (30.0% of the teeth sealed with RBSs and 36.7% of teeth applied with GIC) were filled after 10 years. The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a higher survival rate in the RBS group when compared with the GIC over the entire follow-up period (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Although the survival rate of RBSs was higher than GIC sealants, their effectiveness in preventing fissure caries in permanent second molars did not differ significantly over a 10-year follow-up.

The Assessment of Resin-Based Composite Sealants' Effectiveness in Arresting Non-Cavitated Dentin Carious Lesions (ICDAS 3)-A 12 Month Follow-Up Preliminary Study.

Background and Objectives: The therapeutic management of carious lesions remains a significant focus for researchers, given their persistently high prevalence despite being largely preventable. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a composite resin-based sealant material in halting extended non-cavitated dentin carious lesions when used therapeutically versus preventively on caries-free teeth over a period of twelve months. Materials and Methods: out of the 236 children examined, 45 were excluded from the study due to non-compliance with the inclusion criteria. Thus, the study included 191 children aged 10-12 years, and 764 molars in total. Results: among these molars, 171 were caries-free (ICDAS II code 0), forming the Control group, while 180 molars were classified with an ICDAS II score of 3, forming the Study group. All molars were sealed and evaluated at 6- and 12-month follow-up intervals. Both intervals revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in sealant retention and carious lesion development between sound (ICDAS code 0) and decayed (ICDAS code 3) teeth. Conclusions: the findings did not support the effectiveness of sealants in halting non-cavitated dentin carious lesions classified as ICDAS II with code 3 compared to their preventive application in sound teeth classified as ICDAS II with code 0.

Retention and Effectiveness of School-based Dental Sealant Programs in Lucknow – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Pit-and-fissure sealants, particularly the resin-based type, are widely used as the most efficient technique for preventing caries on the occlusal surfaces of permanent molars. School-based dental sealant (SBDS) program is a system where sealants are applied to the children in their schools with the primary aim to certify and safeguard the permanent molars that are sealed at the earliest after eruption. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the retention and effectiveness of SBDS Programs in Lucknow, UP. Materials and Methods: A split-mouth randomized controlled trial was conducted among 6-year-old school-going children of Lucknow, UP. The study was carried out by a single trained and calibrated investigator who recorded the dentition status. The investigator interviewed the participants using a pro forma and examined the subjects included in the study. The sealant was applied to one tooth in the pair of fully erupted permanent first molars, and no treatment was done on the other side. Results: The proportion of total retention after 1½ years was significantly higher in mandibular as compared with maxillary molars (Z = 2.04; P = 0.04). The risk of having caries was 3.52 times more among children with no treatment as compared to children with treatment (odds ratio [OR] – 3.52 [1.01, 13.11]; P = 0.04; statistically significant). The association between survival rate of sealant and International Caries Detection and Assessment System codes (0 and 1–2) as well as that between retention of sealant and caries status was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.01 and 0.00001, respectively). The risk of having caries was 1.28 times more among males as compared to females (OR – 1.28 [0.38, 4.24]; P = 0.06), 1.61 times for sugar exposure (OR – 1.61 [0.53, 6.19]; P = 0.53; nonsignificant). Conclusion: Sealant application proved to be an efficient method in preventing dental caries development; hence, SBDS programs, wherein the sealants were placed at school, were highly efficacious and acceptable in the vulnerable populace.

Efficacy of Glass Ionomer Cement as Pit and Fissure Sealant in Permanent First Molars.

Background/Objectives Pit and fissure caries constitute a predominant portion, approximately 90% in permanent posterior teeth and 44% in primary teeth among children and adolescents. Among various preventive modalities, pit and fissure sealants play a pivotal role in safeguarding these vulnerable areas. Categorized by materials such as glass ionomer, composites, and polyacid-modified glass ionomers, these sealants offer effective protection. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of glass ionomer-based pit and fissure sealants in terms of retention rate at 12-month post-procedure period in permanent first molars. Methodology This study was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan, Pakistan. Fifty-six children, aged 7 to 12 years, presenting with pit and fissure caries in permanent first molar teeth were enrolled. Glass ionomer sealantwas meticulously applied to the affected pits and fissures. The efficacy was assessed after 12 months based on predefined criteria. Results The age of participants ranged from 7 to 12 years, with a mean age of 9.24 ± 1.38 years. Among the 56 patients, 23 (41.2%) were male and 33 (58.8%) were female. Sealant retention was noted in 31 (55.35%) patients, while 25 (44.65%) experienced sealant loss. In the 7 to 9-year age group, 19 demonstrated complete sealant retention, whereas in the 10 to 12-year age group, 12 exhibited complete retention. Concerning gender distribution, 17 males and 14 females exhibited complete sealant retention. Conclusion Glass ionomer-based sealants demonstrate excellent properties for pit and fissure sealing owing to their low technique sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and favorable retention rates. Therefore, they represent an optimal choice for this preventive dental procedure.

Clinical Effectiveness of Air Abrasion When Compared to Conventional Acid-etching Technique in Enhancing the Retention of Pit and Fissure Sealants: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of our study was to perform a systematic review to assess and compare the effectiveness of the air abrasion technique with that of the conventional acid-etching technique performed before the placement of pit and fissure sealants. A search of studies was conducted in May 2021 using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Clinical trials in the English language between 1997 and 2019 were included. The quality of the studies was analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The search retrieved 276 references, out of which seven studies were included for a qualitative analysis. In these seven studies, the risk of bias across the Cochrane tool's domains varied from low to high. All the included studies considered acid-etching as a comparator to air abrasion technique either used alone or as an adjunct to acid-etching technique. When coverage of sealants or their retentivity was compared at different time intervals, it was more in the acid-etching group than in the air abrasion group. Similarly, carious lesions were seen more in the air abrasion group than in the acid-etching group. The air abrasion technique followed by acid-etching brought superior retention properties of sealants than the acid-etching technique alone. Bhadule SN, Kalaskar R, Kalaskar A, et al. Clinical Effectiveness of Air Abrasion When Compared to Conventional Acid-etching Technique in Enhancing the Retention of Pit and Fissure Sealants: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):377-384.

Clinical evaluation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic resin-based sealants in uncooperative children: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

This clinical trial aimed to evaluate and compare the retention and cariostatic effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic resin-based sealants (RBSs) for sealing pits and fissures in the permanent molars of uncooperative children. A split-mouth and double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted among 6- to 9-year-old uncooperative children. One hundred and four sound mandibular and maxillary first permanent molars were randomly allocated to be sealed with group I (UltraSeal XT® hydro™) or group II (Helioseal-F) in 34 uncooperative children. Clinical evaluation was performed by two investigators using the Color, Coverage and Caries system to assess sealant retention and cariostatic effect at 3-, 6- and 12-month intervals. Data analysis was performed using Friedman's and Mann-Whitney U tests. The final analysis included 31 children with 49 pairs of teeth. No significant differences were observed between the retention and cariostatic effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic RBSs at the 3-, 6- and 12-month intervals (p = 0.23, p = 0.638, and p = 0.706, respectively) (p = 0.175, p = 0.065, and p = 0.171, respectively). After 12 months of follow-up, the hydrophilic RBSs showed an outcome equivalent to that of conventional hydrophobic RBSs in terms of retention and cariostatic effects. Therefore, hydrophilic RBSs could be considered as the sealing material of choice when isolation is difficult, particularly in uncooperative children.

Retention and Caries Development after Pit and Fissure Sealant Placement among 6-14 Years Old School Children from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation - Cohort Study

Aim: To check for the retention of sealants and caries experience of the teeth after 9 months.&#x0D; Methods: An interventional study was planned for the children of Government school in Pimpri, Pune, aged 6-14 years, where a total of 290 occlusal surfaces of molar teeth were selected to place GIC pit and fissure sealant. The oral screening was done to rule out children with carious and unerupted or children who didn’t need any sealant placement. The remaining were selected for placement of pit and fissure sealant.&#x0D; Results: At the end of the 9th month, the total retention rate was 67.93%. There was also a slight increase in caries experience in 8 children with dislodged sealants but the extent was not severe.&#x0D; Discussion: The pit and fissure sealants procedure are one of the widely accepted preventive treatments since the 1970s. The effectiveness of pit and fissure is allied with how long the sealants stay over the tooth surfaces and the degree of their presence. The GIC sealants though having the advantage of fluoride release after placement also have the disadvantage of difficulty in handling limiting their adoption and use.&#x0D; Conclusion: At the follow-up visit in the 9th month it was seen that the retention rate of sealant was 67.93%. Sealants were dislodged from the pit and fissures but remnants of sealants were present on the tooth which could have provided protection to the tooth from caries due to the fluoride-releasing property of GIC.

Effect of Two Different Invasive Tooth Surface Preparation Techniques on Penetration, Marginal Adaptation, and Retention of Pit and Fissure Sealant (An In Vitro Study)

Effect of Two Different Invasive Tooth Surface Preparation Techniques on Penetration, Marginal Adaptation, and Retention of Pit and Fissure Sealant (An In Vitro Study)

Clinical performance of sealants under different humidity control conditions: a split-mouth 1-year randomized trial.

Sealants are an effective method of prevention and treatment for early caries lesions. This study analyzed the 1-year clinical performance of resin-based and ionomeric sealants applied to permanent teeth under different humidity conditions. The investigation was a triple-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) with a four arms split-mouth design, divided according to the sealant protocol: (1) Resin-based sealant applied with rubber dam isolation, (2) Resin-based sealant applied with cotton rolls isolation, (3) Ionomeric sealant applied with rubber dam isolation and (4) Ionomeric sealant applied with cotton rolls isolation. Fifty-eight patients started the study (232 teeth), and 47 (188 teeth) remained until the 1-year recall. The modified USPHS criteria were used in the analyzes to investigate surface texture, retention and the presence of secondary caries lesions around the sealants; in the following periods: baseline, after 3, 6, 9, and 12months by two calibrated examiners. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. There was no difference between the types of sealants (p > 0.05). The type of humidity control influenced the superficial texture (p = 0.0012) and the retention of sealants (p = 0.0023). The sealant displacement was greater under cotton rolls isolation. Only one active caries lesion in enamel was found in the 9th month. It may be concluded that sealants effectively prevented caries, even when they were partially or totally lost, regardless of the material. The rubber dam isolation with a rubber dam promoted lower surface roughness and improved the retention rates. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: #1111-1215-2832 (07/26/2018).

Twelve-month clinical evaluation of retention of resin-based sealant on first permanent molars.

The majority of researchers agree that sealants need to be monitored and kept in good condition because even a small amount of sealant loss raises the possibility of developing caries lesions. The first year after application is when sealant loss is reported to be at its highest. This motivated us to monitor silanized patients who received resin-based sealant for a full year.

Evaluation of Retention and Sealing Ability of Pit and Fissure Sealant Using Stereomicroscope with and without SDF/KI Pretreatment: In Vitro Study

Evaluation of Retention and Sealing Ability of Pit and Fissure Sealant Using Stereomicroscope with and without SDF/KI Pretreatment: In Vitro Study

Safety and effectiveness of an innovative SS-suction device to control moisture in dental procedures

Control of moisture is critical for retention of sealants, which can reduce the incidence of caries in high-risk groups. Objectives: We investigated the safety and efficacy of the novel SS-suction device in the laboratory and a small clinical trial in children aged 6 to 8-years-old. Methods: First, a laboratory test of 52 SS-suction devices was conducted to determine the pressure generated by the chin plate to maintain suction at different intervals and to determine the pressure resistance of the spring to maintain suction in a child's mouth. Second, 12 healthy children with sound lower molars participated in a clinical trial of the use of SS-suction during sealant application. Results: The laboratory test showed that when pressed to the maximum distance of 25 mm, the chin plate produced a pressure of 247.5 ± 116.6 mmHg. At this pressure, the SS-suction could be used safely for up to 120 min without damaging the soft tissues. In the clinical study, the dentists inserted and removed the SS-suction in 7.80 ± 2.48 s. The range by which the chin plate was pressed down varied between 0 and 13 mm. The highest pressure on the skin was 120 mmHg (at 13 mm) and the device effectively maintained suction and effectively removed water and saliva. The time required to apply sealant was 7.01 ± 2.26 min. Conclusions: The SS-suction is a safe, effective device for two-handed application of sealants in children, with no negative side effects. Clinical significance: We demonstrate the unique SS-suction device can quickly drain water and saliva to help dentists treat young patients using a two-handed approach; this device provides good control of moisture during sealant application. The device prevents the tongue and cheeks from interfering with the operation area, reduces tension, and does not require a dental assistant.

Air abrasion with additional water supply for sealing fissures of permanent teeth in children

Relevance. The prevalence of caries in permanent teeth of 6-year-old children in Russia reaches 13%. In view of tooth enamel mineralization completion within a few years after the eruption, the role of primary prevention is especially significant. Fissure sealing is one of the preventive measures. At the same time, the effectiveness of dental caries prevention in children within the first year after tooth eruption reaches sufficiently high rates.Material and methods. The study involved 58 children. The experimental group included 30 children (105 teeth) who had the fissures sealed by air abrasion with additional water supply using a "Rondoflex plus 360" handpiece ("KaVo", Germany). The control group included 28 children (89 teeth) who underwent standard non-invasive sealing. Sealing effectiveness was assessed in 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months using the E.M. Melnichenko formula modified by the authors. Statistical data were represented by percentage; the χ2 test identified inter-group differences.Results. The experimental group showed the best sealant retention (up to 76.19% after 24 months). In the control group, the percentage of retained sealant was 48.31% by the end of the follow-up period. After 1 and 2 years, the total sealant loss was 11.24% and 22.48%, respectively. This fact may be associated with the failure of the sealant adhesion to the tooth enamel under the influence of a constant chewing load.Conclusion. Analyzing two-year follow-up results, we found that caries developed in 3.81% of cases in the main group, and the control group revealed caries in 12.37%. Thus, the effectiveness of fissure sealing using air abrasion with additional water supply is 63.4% higher compared to the non-invasive technique (χ2 =16.638, p&lt;0.001).

Real-world effectiveness of national pit and fissure sealants program in Taiwan

ObjectivesThis study investigated the effectiveness of a national population-based pit and fissure sealants (PFS) program in Taiwan. MethodsPart 1 (effectiveness of national PFS program) involved children who had participated in the PFS program from 2015 to 2019. After propensity score matching, 670,840 children were selected for analysis until the end of 2019. During follow-up, the permanent first molars of the participants were assessed for caries-related treatments by employing multilevel Cox proportional hazards models. In Part 2 (effectiveness of retained sealants), which involved 1,561 children, sealant retention was evaluated 3 years after placement. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect information on family and individual factors. The endpoints were the same as in Part 1. ResultsIn Part 1, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for caries-related treatments among participants in the PFS program were 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89, 0.91) for dental restoration, 0.42 (95% CI = 0.38, 0.46) for initiation of endodontic treatment, 0.46 (95% CI = 0.41, 0.52) for completion of endodontic treatment, and 0.25 (95% CI = 0.18, 0.34, all Ps < 0.0001) for extraction. In Part 2, the adjusted HR for dental restoration of teeth with retained sealants was 0.70 (95% CI = 0.58, 0.85), significantly lower than that for teeth without retained sealants (P = 0.0002). ConclusionsParticipation in the national PFS program was associated with a significant reduction of at least 10% in the risk of caries-related treatments, and an additional 30% risk reduction may have been attributed to sealant retention. Clinical SignificanceIn a real-world setting, schoolchildren in the national PFS program were associated with a significant reduction of at least 10% in the likelihood of caries-related treatments. The program provided moderate protection against caries for the study population and could be improved by increasing the sealant retention rate.

Retention in fissure resin-based sealants in schoolchildren: the etching step importance.

Randomized controlled trial. Forty-seven schoolchildren aged 9-10 years with fully sound/noncavitated erupted first permanent molars were included and randomly allocated in control and experimental groups in a split-mouth design. 47 schoolchildren (94 molars) fissure sealants applied using self-etch universal adhesive system. 47 schoolchildren (94 molars) fissure sealants applied using conventional acid-etching technique. Retention of sealants and secondary caries incidence (ICDAS). Chi-square test. Conventional acid-etch sealants retention was superior to self-etch after 6 and 24 months (p < 0.001), but no differences were found in caries incidence after 6 and 24 months (p > 0.05). Clinical retention of fissure sealants using conventional acid-etch technique is greater than self-etch.