Clinical evaluation of a surface pre-reacted glass (S-PRG) filler-containing dental sealant placed with a self-etching primer/adhesive

Abstract

Aims: To clinically evaluate the retention rates and caries-prevention effect of a resin-based, non-etch and rinse, self-etch primed pit and fissure sealant containing Sealant Pre-reacted Glass Ionomer Cement (S-PRG) fillers, in comparison to a conventional resin-based sealant over an 18-month period.

Methods: There were 81 children, aged 6-12 years old, who were randomly assigned to one of two sealant-groups, either the self-etch primed sealant (Beautisealant, Shofu) or the conventional etch and rinse sealant (Seal it, Spident). A total of 218 sealants of both groups were placed on first permanent molars with either sound surfaces (The International Caries Detection and Assessment System [ICDAS], code 0) or incipient enamel caries lesions (ICDAS code 1) according to the manufacturers' instructions. Each sealant restoration was independently evaluated in terms of retention and caries status at 6, 12 and 18 months. The data were statistically analysed with the Chi-squared test and z-test and the level of significance was preset at α = 0.05.

Results: The differences between the complete retention rates of the two sealant groups were statistically significant in all periods of evaluation (p < 0.01). Survival rates of each sealant-group were comparable on sound (ICDAS 0) and enamel caries lesions (ICDAS1). Caries prevention effect of the two sealant groups was similar at the end of the evaluation period.

Conclusions: The clinical performance of the S-PRG filler-containing dental sealant placed with a self-etching primer was poor regarding its retention. Its significantly higher loss did not lead to more carious occlusal surfaces at the 18-month recall.

Keywords: Dental sealants; Pre-reacted glass fillers; Resin-based; Self-etch.