Microleakage of Fissure Sealants after Contamination with Saliva

The aim of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the influence of saliva contamination on the microleakage of a light curing fissure sealant (Ultradent XT plus) and a self curing fissure sealant (Delton) after prophylaxis with either Klint or Airflow.

Method:

80 fissures of non-carious molars were included and cleaned with either Klint (K) or Airflow (A). Subsequently, the teeth were randomly assigned to the following groups: Ultradent XT Plus (U) and Delton (D). The fissure sealant was applied as recommended by the manufacturer (U1, D1). In groups U2 and D2 the fissures were additionally contaminated with saliva. Therefore, 5µl artificial saliva was applied onto the fissures and slightly air dried before sealing. The specimens were then subjected to artificial aging with a thermocycling process (5-55°C, 5000 cycles). After that all teeth were immersed in methylene blue for 48 hours, rinsed, sectioned and examined with a digital light microscopy (10-200x). Microleakage was scored as 0 = no dye penetration; 1 = dye penetration into the occlusal third of the enamel-sealant interface, 2 = dye penetration into the middle third of the interface, and 3 = dye penetration into the apical third of the interface. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0.

Result:

Following microleakage scores were evaluated (mean values and standard deviation):

KU1=1.75(±0.58);  KD1=0.9(±0.98); AU1=1.44(±0.84); AD1=0.62(±0.92); KU2=2.31(±0.88); KD2=1.75(±1.41); AU2=2.26(±0.81); AD2=1.78(±1.4). After saliva contamination all fissure sealants showed significantly higher average microleakage scores (p<0.05; Tukey’s Test). The highest microleakage scores were observed in groups KU2 (p>0.001; ANOVA).

Conclusion:

Within the limitation of an in-vitro-study it can be concluded that saliva contamination increases the microleakage of the tested fissure sealants significantly.