Clinical Evaluation of Two Different Pit and Fissure Sealants

Overview

It is planned to include girls and boys between the ages of 6-12 who apply to Başkent University Faculty of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Clinic for routine dental examination. Informed and written consent will be obtained from the parents of each participating child. In teeth planned to undergo treatment, molar ıncisor hypomineralization diagnosis will be made primarily in the presence of limited opacities/enamel fracture after eruption in at least one first permanent molar according to European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry criteria. In teeth diagnosed with molar ıncisor hypominerlization, tooth surfaces will be cleaned with a slow-speed rotary brush and dried with air before the evaluations to be made using the ICDAS II index. Early enamel caries lesions will be assessed by visual examination. The decayed, missing, filled teeth of the patients will be assessed according to the World Health Organization assessment criteria. The groups will be double-blind randomized as conventional fissure sealant (n=63) and self-adhesive flowable composite (n=63): Group I (acid+resin-based fissure sealant) will be etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds, the surface will be rinsed and air dried until an opaque appearance is achieved on the enamel. Low-viscosity fluoride containing resin based fissure sealant will be applied to the etched enamel surface. Group II (self-adhesive flowable composite); self adhesive flowable composite will be applied in one step. All applied fissure sealants will be polymerized using a light device. Finally, occlusion control will be performed on fissure sealants with articulation paper.The Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale will be used to assess the presence of hypersensitivity in the affected teeth by applying the air-water spray perpendicular to the occlusal surface of the tooth from a distance of 1 cm for 1 second. Clinical evaluation of fissure sealants will be performed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months using modified . Sealants that receive "Alpha" or "Bravo" scores for all criteria (anatomical form, marginal adaptation, surface texture, marginal color change, retention and secondary caries) will be classified as successful; while "Charlie" scores received from one or more of the United States Public Health Service criteria will be evaluated as failure.

According to the results of this study, if successful results can be obtained from self adhesive flowable composites used as fissure sealants in molar incisor hypomineralized teeth during the 12 month follow up period, it will be possible to shorten the time spent at the patient's bedside by reducing the procedure steps during dental treatment and to increase patient comfort. In addition, depending on the results obtained, self-adhesive flowable composites with different contents will be evaluated with further studies and a pioneering step will be taken for their routine use as fissure sealants with longer clinical life.