Study in vitro of the influence of oclusal sealants on the microleakage: evaluation of two methodologies

Abstract

The present study evaluated in vitro the influence of oclusal sealants on the microleakage in the enamel/sealant interface of fissures submitted to thermocycling and desmineralization/remineralization cycling models. The samples were divided into two groups: the Control Group (C), which received no sealant treatment and the Experimental Group (E), which was treated by different sealants such as: resin sealant, Alpha Seal (A), fluoride-containing sealant, FluroShield (F) and resin-modified glass ionomer, Vitremer (V). The groups were classified according to the cycling applied: subgroups C1, F1, V1 and A1 were submitted to thermocycling, and subgroups C2, F2, V2 and A2 submitted to thermocycling and pH cycling, simulating in vivo conditions of high caries risk. The specimens were placed in a 0,5% methyl blue solution; the dye penetration in the enamel/sealant interface was evaluated under stereomicroscope and representative scores of microleakage were attibuted to them. Then, the fragments were photographed and the dye penetration in the ename/sealant interface was evaluated through linear measurements of the enamel/sealant interface by using a digital imaging system. The data obtained through the two methodologies used for microleakage evaluation indicated that the resinous seleant (A and F) revealed to be the best fissure protection. As for the evaluation of the microleakage degree, the methodology that used a digital imaging system offered results significantly representative rather than the method of the direct analysis under stereomicroscope.