Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aim: Pit and fissure sealant therapy, is one of the most effective methods, in prevention of occlusal caries. Saliva contamination before curing the resin can increase the risk of failure in this method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of saliva contamination prior to curing on microleakage of pit and fissure sealants.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental in vitro study 21 sound human pre molars were selected and two standardized V-Shaped fissures were prepared on both buccal and lingual surfaces, then they were randomly divided into two equal groups. In the control group, the sealant was cured without any saliva contamination and in the case group, the sealed teeth were immersed in artificial saliva for ten seconds before curing. After thermocycling the samples were immersed in 2% fouchsin solution for 24 hours and then sectioned longitudinally in bucco - lingual direction. The specimens were then fixed and assessed under stereomicroscope to determine microleakage and dye penetration using paired student t. test. P<0.05 was considered as the level of significance.

Results: Analysis of data showed no significant differences in microleakage, between the two groups (p=0.178).

Conclusion: According to the results of this study saliva contamination of uncured sealant had no influence on microleakage.

Background and Aim: Since the clinical studies conducted to explore the effect of bonding agents on the success of fissure sealant are limited in number, the present study was conducted to compare the effects of two bonding agents on the success of fissure sealant of the saliva- contaminated teeth.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 63 teeth of 35 students aged 6-8 with healthy and newly-erupted upper jaw molar teeth, were selected and divided into two groups. In one group, single-bond and In the other, SE bond were used. As the teeth were newly erupted and the distopalatal area being in contact with the gingival sulcus and this fact that, this area was impossible to isolate, the distal sulcus of the contaminated teeth and the mesial area capable of adequate isolation were assumed isolated. For each group, after etching, the teeth on one side were treated with a sealant and the teeth on the other side were first bonded and then treated with the sealant. Hence, four groups were formed: bonded/isolated, bonded/contaminated, controlled/isolated and controlled/contaminated for any bonding agent. The results of the treatment were assessed in terms of the success and failure and then analyzed using Mc Nemar, and Chi-square tests and Cochran.

Results: The results of the study indicated that:1. Saliva contamination caused a significant increase in sealant failures(p<0.05).2. Use of the two bonding agents significantly increased the success of the sealant(p<0.05).3. Use of the two bonding agents significantly increased the success of the fissure sealant on the saliva-contaminated teeth, even more than when the teeth had been isolated and with only fissure sealant(p<0.05). 4. For the contaminated enamel, the results of SE bond were better than those of the single bond (p<0.05). However, in isolated condition the results of using single bond were better (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the study supported the use of these two bonding agents in the treatment of fissure sealants under both isolated and contaminated conditions. Further, more SE bond seemed to be less sensitive to saliva contamination.