Comparison of f issure s ealant m icroleakage after d epositing on t ooth in i solated and non i solated s tate (in v itro)

Background: Many clinical studies have shown the efficacy of pit and fissure sealants in reduction of caries. However saliva contamination during the treatment is the cause of fissure sealant failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microleakage of fissure sealant applied under isolated and non-isolated conditions.

  Materials and methods: In this experimental seventy six sound human premolar teeth collected from Dentistry centers of Zahedan during 2007 were investigated in two groups: isolated group and contaminated with saliva. A fissure was prepared on buccal surface of the teeth by a ¼ round bur. Fissure sealant was applied to all teeth, then test group teeth were contaminated by saliva for 5 seconds after deposing fissure sealant on the fissure. The sealed tooth was thermocycled (5-55 degrees, 2000 cycles) and then immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsin solution for 24h. The teeth were sectioned in buccal lingual dimention and the amount of microleakage was assigned by a sterio microscope and the results were evaluated by Chi-square and m ann – w hitny analysis and p <0.05 was considered significant.

  Results: Significant difference was noticed in microleakage of fissure sealant in isolated and non isolated state (P=0.001). The difference in microleakage of dye in the space between enamel and sealant was significant between two groups (P=0.001). Even in some cases (31.59 %) sealant was separated from the tooth in non- isolated teeth.

  Discussion: According to the results of this study it is recommended to do the teeth sealant therapy in a completely isolated situation and repeat sealant therapy if any contamination occurred after deposing the sealant.