Fluoride-releasing capacity and cariostatic effect provided by sealants

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of sealants on enamel demineralization, focusing on physical protection of the sealed enamel and fluoride protection of the adjacent unsealed enamel. Occlusal fissures with areas measuring 12 mm2 were delimited in 48 extracted molars, randomly divided into 4 groups (n =12): 1) no sealing; 2) sealing with a resin-modified glass-ionomer (Vitremer, 3M ESPE); 3) sealing with a fluoride-releasing composite sealant (Clinpro Sealant, 3M ESPE); and 4) sealing with a non-fluoridated composite sealant (Concise, 3M ESPE). A 4-mm2 window was outlined on the buccal enamel for analysis of fluoride uptake. Following treatment, groups 2, 3 and 4 were subjected to 5-days of pH-cycling, while group 1 was kept in a moist environment at 37 degrees C. Fluoride uptake was assessed by dental biopsy, and the amount of fluoride released to the cycling solutions was determined by ion analysis. Enamel demineralization around the sealants was evaluated by cross-sectional micro-hardness analysis. Group 2 showed higher levels of fluoride release (P < 0.01) and uptake by enamel (P < 0.05), and lower levels of demineralization (P < 0.05) than groups 3 and 4. Group 3 exhibited reduced demineralization on unsealed enamel and provided fluoride uptake in a distant enamel area, while group 4 did not.

Comparison of resin-based and glass ionomer sealants with regard to fluoride-release and anti-demineralization efficacy on adjacent unsealed enamel

“…FVII exhibited the highest amount of fluoride release, and this was in agreement with other studies 9,10,31) . The high fluoride release from FVII may be due to the fact that ionomer is more porous than resinous sealants, and this may have a great influence on the amount of fluoride released 10,26) .…”

“…FVII exhibited the highest amount of fluoride release, and this was in agreement with other studies 9,10,31) . The high fluoride release from FVII may be due to the fact that ionomer is more porous than resinous sealants, and this may have a great influence on the amount of fluoride released 10,26) . Moreover, the observation that the highest levels of fluoride release on the first day of measuring may be caused by a superficial rinsing effect resulting from an initial burst of fluoride released from the glass particles as they dissolved in the polyacrylic acid during the setting reaction.…”

“…This favors biofilm accumulation that might lead to subsequent caries formation, particularly in high-risk patients. Therefore, incorporation of fluoride in sealants has been suggested as a viable option for caries prevention through the potential of fluoride released from materials that help to inhibit demineralization in the adjacent enamel [8][9][10][11] . However, it is still unclear whether the fluorides released from resin-based sealants provide any additional clinical benefits 3,5) .…”

Performance of Preventive Methods Applied to the Occlusal Surface of Primary Teeth: A Randomized Clinical Study

“…The occlusal pits and fissures were etched with 37% phosphoric acid (Condac 37%, FGM Dental Products, Joinville, SC, Brazil) for 15 seconds, followed by rinsing for 30 seconds and drying of the occlusal surface (groups 1 and 2) [20].…”

Assessment of the inhibitory effects of fissure sealants on the demineralization of primary teeth using an automatic pH-cycling system

“…Most previous in vivo studies on fissure sealants have been follow-up studies in which progress was observed 13,14) and studies in which artificially created demineralization was assessed without recreating chronological changes in pH in the oral cavity 15,16) . Matsuda et al developed an automatic pH-cycling system capable of recreating continuous fluctuations in pH represented by the Stephan curve 17) ; in doing so, they established an experimental system capable of applying chronological demineralization and remineralization to specimens 18,19) .…”