Clinical evaluation of three different materials used as pit and fissure sealants

ABSTRACT

Fissure sealant is a well established comonent in prevention of dental caries of the occlusal surface in the newly erupted molars. The purpose of the present study was evaluate the retention and caries-preventive effect of a glass ionomer cement [Vitremer], a flowable compomere [Dyract Flow] and a flowable composite [Tetric Flow]. 160 first molars of 40 children aged 6-8 years with mean age 7.25 +/- 0.4 years of both sexes completed this study. Their lower and upper first molars had been newly erupted. They were previously classified as a high caries risk group as they had dmfs not less than 4 surfaces. They were divided into 4 equal groups. 10 children in each group had only one type of a sealant. The other 10 children were the control group. All children and their parent were educated how to use oral hygiene methods as well as proper diet to control caries. It was found that Tetric flow had the best retention followed by Vitremer and finally Dyract Flow had the least retention. While for caries development, control group showed at the end of the study 34 sound molar, Dyract flow group had 36 sound molar, Vitremer group had 38 sound molar while Tetric Flow had 39 sound molar. It was concluded that flowable composite is superior in its use as a fissure sealant followed by glass ionomer cement and finally compomer is not that good as a fissure sealant material: