Ali Bagherian1, Mahsa Ahmadkhani2, Mahmood Sheikhfathollahi3, Reza Bahramabadinejad4. 1. Department of Pedodontics, Dental School, at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Kerman province, Iran. drbagherian@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Pedodontics, Dental School, at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Kerman province, Iran. 3. Department of Social Medicine and Environment Research Center, in the Medical School, at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Kerman province, Iran. 4. Department of Microbiology, in the Medical School, at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Kerman province, Iran.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare microbial leakage of a new hydrophilic sealant with that of a conventional hydrophobic resin-based sealant. METHODS: One hundred extracted, caries-free, human maxillary premolars were randomly divided into five groups. Those in Groups 1, 2, and 3 had dry, wet, and artificial saliva-contaminated occlusal surfaces, respectively, and were sealed with a hydrophilic sealant, while those in Groups 4 and 5 had dry and wet occlusal surfaces, respectively, and were sealed with a hydrophobic sealant. A newly designed microbial penetration method utilizing Streptococcus mutans as an indicator was tested for leakage assessment. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software, and the significance level was set at α=0.05. RESULTS: The log rank test indicated a statistically significant difference in leakage rates among the five groups. Mantel-Cox log-rank test findings showed that Group 3 had the highest leakage rate, with Groups 2 and 4 having the lowest. There was no statistically significant difference in leakage rate between Groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the limitations of an in vitro study, our findings suggest that hydrophilic sealants are an acceptable alternative to hydrophobic sealants.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare microbial leakage of a new hydrophilic sealant with that of a conventional hydrophobic resin-based sealant. METHODS: One hundred extracted, caries-free, human maxillary premolars were randomly divided into five groups. Those in Groups 1, 2, and 3 had dry, wet, and artificial saliva-contaminated occlusal surfaces, respectively, and were sealed with a hydrophilic sealant, while those in Groups 4 and 5 had dry and wet occlusal surfaces, respectively, and were sealed with a hydrophobic sealant. A newly designed microbial penetration method utilizing Streptococcus mutans as an indicator was tested for leakage assessment. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software, and the significance level was set at α=0.05. RESULTS: The log rank test indicated a statistically significant difference in leakage rates among the five groups. Mantel-Cox log-rank test findings showed that Group 3 had the highest leakage rate, with Groups 2 and 4 having the lowest. There was no statistically significant difference in leakage rate between Groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the limitations of an in vitro study, our findings suggest that hydrophilic sealants are an acceptable alternative to hydrophobic sealants.