Microleakage of fissure sealants after occlusal enameloplasty and thermocycling.

This study evaluated the microleakage of a filled and an unfilled sealant after different occlusal surface treatments. A total of 120 human non carious extracted molars were cleaned with a water slurry of fine flour of pumice using Crescent Snap-On pointed brushes in a slow-speed hand piece. The teeth were divided at random into six groups of 20 teeth each; Group 1 pumice prophylaxis and PrismaShield filled sealant; Group 2 pumice prophylaxis and Delton opaque unfilled sealant; Group 3 treatment with a diamond fissure bur (Sorensen Ponta K.G. 2137 F) and PrismaShield sealant; Group 4 treatment with a diamond fissure bur (Sorensen Ponta K.G. 2137 F) and Delton opaque sealant; Group 5 treatment with a 1/4 round carbide bur and PrismaShield sealant; and Group 6 treatment with a 1/4 round carbide bur and Delton opaque sealant. Before sealant placement, the enamel occlusal surfaces were acid-etched for 30 seconds using disposable brushes, rinsed, and dried. The sealants were light-cured for 40 seconds. Immediately after curing the sealant, 60 teeth were placed in distilled water for 48 hours and 60 teeth were thermocycled (500x, at 5 degrees C - 55 degrees C, dwell time 30 seconds) and evaluated for microleakage. Wilcoxon and Fisher's Exact Test revealed no statistical significant difference in microleakage between the thermocycled and non-thermocycled groups, between the fissure treatment modalities or between the filled and unfilled sealants.