Objectives: In the present study the influence of supplementary ozone treatment prior to fissure sealing upon the adhesion of the restorative to enamel/dentin was evaluated.
Methods: The fissures of 120 extracted human molars were opened minimal invasive within enamel and dentin with a 0.8diameter diamond bur. The teeth were assigned to two groups: Group I: ozone treatment (Healozone,KaVo) for 40s prior to sealing with Tetric Flow (Vivadent,n=20,TF), Helioseal Clear (Vivadent,n=20,HC) or Fuji VII (GC,n=20,FU); Group II: restorations were placed immediately after preparation. Half of the teeth in each group (n=10 teeth per group and material) were exposed to thermocycling (TC: 5000x8°C/55°C;60s/cycle), the other half was stored in saline at 37°C for one week. Following silver-staining, samples were multiply sectioned. Microleakage was graded in enamel and dentin. The frequency of positive silver-staining relative to the number of possible events/tooth was calculated (%). The data were statistically analyzed (Mann Whitney test/Error Rates method).
Results: Before TC, the frequency of silver-staining was 26-50% (group I) and 23-50% (group II), TF revealing the lowest (26%) and FU the highest frequency (50%) (group I). After TC, the frequency of silver-staining was 8-46% (group I) and 10-50% (group II), TF revealing the lowest (8%/10%) and FU the highest frequency (46%/50%) in groups I and II. Before and after TC, microleakage was limited to enamel with TF and FU, whereas with HC silver-staining included enamel and dentin. The Error Rates Method revealed a significant influence of the sealing material upon the frequency of silver-staining but no difference was determined with respect to ozone treatment.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present in vitro study, supplementary ozone treatment prior to extended fissure sealing does not have an influence upon the adhesion of pit and fissure sealants, however, the choice of the sealing material significantly influences marginal adhesion.