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Should I be using pit and fissure sealants or amalgam?
International Dental Journal
|March 1, 1976
Summary
Dental fissure sealants effectively prevent occlusal caries, especially ultraviolet light-cured types. Etched enamel remineralizes, and sealants can arrest early caries, but larger lesions require restoration.
Area of Science:
- Dental materials science
- Cariology
- Preventive dentistry
Background:
- Occlusal caries is a significant dental problem.
- Fissure sealants are a key preventive strategy.
- Understanding sealant efficacy and material properties is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effectiveness of fissure sealants in preventing occlusal caries.
- To evaluate the impact of different sealant curing methods.
- To assess the interaction between sealants, etched enamel, and microleakage.
Main Methods:
- Review of multiple clinical trials on fissure sealant efficacy.
- Analysis of studies on ultraviolet light-cured sealants.
- Examination of in vitro studies on microleakage and artificial caries.
Main Results:
- Ultraviolet light-cured fissure sealants show highly significant caries prevention.
- Etched enamel not covered by sealant can remineralize.
- Sealants may arrest small, undiagnosed fissures; larger lesions need restoration.
- Composite materials reduce cavity wall lesions compared to amalgam.
- Resin application to margins can further decrease microleakage.
Conclusions:
- Fissure sealants are highly effective in preventing occlusal caries.
- UV-cured sealants offer reproducible and successful results.
- Sealants can manage early-stage caries, but comprehensive restoration is needed for advanced lesions.