Efficacy of a sealant : study on the efficacy of a sealant (Light Bond) in preventing decalcification during...

Decalcification remains a serious problem when treating patients with a multibracket appliance. The objective of this study was to classify patients with decalcification in terms of where it occurs, and to compare its potential reduction using a smooth surface sealant with a control group with no sealant. We also aimed to discover whether this enamel sealant would affect the incidence of bracket loss.

A total of 78 patients aged 11.6 to 39.5 years (median: 15.9 years) treated at a private orthodontic practice were examined for signs of decalcification within a maximum of 3 months after debonding. The indexing system used for evaluation subdivided the tooth's labial surface into four zones for quantifying the area affected (0-3) and severity of the decalcification (0-3). Preexisting areas of demineralization were excluded based on photographic evidence. We used cumulative logistical regression to investigate the sealant effect. Bracket loss was evaluated according to patient records.

In patients with sealed labial surfaces, we observed a significantly reduced level of severity in the areas affected by decalcification (p = 0.013) and the depth of demineralization (p = 0.080). Sealant application reduced the median incidence of bracket loss by half.

Our results demonstrate that Light Bond Reliance, the viscous sealant used in this study, may assist in preventing or reducing the incidence of enamel demineralization. We also noted a correlation between the sealant's use and the incidence of bracket loss in the treatment group.