Influence of Adhesion Booster Application on Facial Sealant Retention

Objectives: To evaluate if the application of Assure Plus adhesion boosting primer influences sealant retention on the facial surface of premolars.
Methods: Thirty human extracted premolars were sectioned faciolingually and mounted with the crown exposed in casting putty for testing. They were etched with 37% phosphoric acid etch for 30 seconds, rinsed with water for 20 seconds and dried with oil and moisture free air for 20 seconds. They were randomly allocated into two Groups. The PROSEAL group had a light application of Proseal LED protective dental sealant applied; the PROSEAL+ group had a thin layer of Assure Plus adhesion boosting primer applied and cured, followed by a thin layer of Proseal LED. Using the Proto-tech toothbrushing simulator, the specimens were tested for simulated two years (1500 strokes). The teeth were qualitatively analyzed under a black light at the initial, and simulated 4 months, 12 months and 24 months time intervals. Areas of sealant loss were marked on a 3x3 grid to correspond to the area loss on the crown.
Results: PROSEAL+ teeth consistently showed greater number of quadrants with sealant loss than the PROSEAL teeth, including 13% more quadrants from start to 4 months, 3.3% more quadrants from start to 12 months, and 6.7% more quadrants from start to 24 months. None of the differences were statistically significant (p>0.05). Based on those teeth that had sealant in all nine quadrants at the start of the experiment, the PROSEAL had 11.7%,10%, and 18.3% more quadrants with sealant loss from start 4 months, start to 12 months, and start to 24 months, respectively. Again, none of the differences were statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Over time, crowns covered with Assure Plus and Proseal undergo slightly, but not significantly, greater sealant loss than crowns covered only with Assure Plus.