Effects of fissure cleaning methods, drying agents, and fissure morphology on microleakage and penetration ability of sealants in vitro.

PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of different cleaning methods and the use of post-etching drying agents, as well as the influence of fissure types on the microleakage and penetration ability of fissure sealants. METHODS Ninety extracted human molar teeth were randomly divided into 9 groups of 10 each. The treatment groups were defined by the combination of different cleaning methods (traditional pumice prophylaxis, air abrasion with Prophyflex, and air abrasion with Airflow handy) and different drying agents (no drying agent, alcohol 99%, and acetone 99.5%). The teeth were thermocycled (5,000 cycles at 5 degrees C-55 degrees C) and were then immersed in a solution of 5% methylene blue for 24 hours. Microleakage, penetration ability, and fissure types were examined after sectioning. Multiple regression analyses were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS No significant difference was found in microleakage and the penetration ability between the use of different cleaning methods and sealant placement with or without drying agents (P>.05). Y2 fissure type exhibited significantly higher unfilled areas than other fissure types (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Neither air abrasion with acid etching nor the use of post-etching drying agents decreased microleakage and improved the penetration ability of sealants significantly compared to the conventional sealant application. Fissure type was significantly related to the penetration ability of sealants.