Fluoridated and nonfluoridated unfilled sealants show similar shear strength.

In recent years, resin-based fluoridated sealants have been introduced, the fluoride intended as a cariespreventive ingredient. Studies of prophylaxis pastes containing glycerine or fluoride that attribute poor retention to an impervious layer produced by the fluoride and other ingredients 1, 2 have been discounted by Bogert and Garcia-Godoy3 and Koch et al. 4 using newer generations of bonding systems and resins. The type of prophylaxis medium used seems to be unimportant unless it has a very high (10,000 ppm) fluoride content, 4 so the fluoride incorporated into the sealants may affect bond strength to enamel. This study compared the shear bond strengths to enamel of unfilled fluoridated and nonfluoridated pit and fissure sealants.