Fluoride pit and fissure sealants: a review

There are two methods of fluoride incorporation into fissure sealants. In the first method, fluoride is added to the unpolymerized resin in the form of a soluble fluoride salt that releases fluoride ions by dissolution, following sealant application. In the second method, an organic fluoride compound is chemically bound to the resin and the fluoride is released by exchange with other ions (anion exchange system). This report reviews the literature on the effectiveness of all the fluoride-releasing sealants--commercial and experimental--that have been prepared using either the former or the latter method of fluoride incorporation. There is evidence for equal retention rates to conventional sealants and for ex vivo fluoride release and reduced enamel demineralization. However, further research is necessary to ensure the clinical longevity of fluoride sealant retention and to establish the objective of greater caries inhibition through the fluoride released in saliva and enamel.