Sealing of restorations with marginal defects does not affect their longevity

Area of Science:

• Dental materials science
• Restorative dentistry
• Clinical trial methodology

Background:

• Dental restorations, including amalgam and resin composites, can develop minor marginal defects over time.
• The efficacy of sealing these defects (micro-repairs) to enhance restoration longevity has been debated.
• Long-term clinical data are crucial for evaluating such minimally invasive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess whether sealing minor defects in amalgam and resin-based composite restorations improves their 12-year survival rate.
• To compare the longevity of sealed versus unsealed restorations.
• To evaluate the impact of sealing on restoration quality indicators.

Main Methods:

• A 12-year prospective study involving 34 subjects with 137 restorations (51 resin composite, 86 amalgam).
• Restorations with localized marginal defects were randomized into a sealing group or a control group.
• Restoration quality was assessed using modified USPHS criteria, with survival analysis via Kaplan Meier curves and Cox regression.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in restoration longevity was found between sealed and unsealed groups (P=0.136).
• Restorative material type (amalgam vs. resin composite) also did not significantly impact longevity (P=0.538).
• Marginal adaptation, secondary caries, and tooth sensitivity showed no significant differences between groups.

Conclusions:

• Sealing minor marginal defects in dental restorations does not enhance their long-term longevity.
• This micro-repair intervention may be considered unnecessary for patients with low-to-medium caries risk.
• Clinical decisions regarding restoration maintenance should consider evidence-based efficacy.