Comparative Evaluation Of Retention And Microleakage In Acid-Etch And Self-Etch Pit And Fissure Sealants In Primary Teeth Post Radiotherapy: An In-Vitro Study

Abstract

Background: The effect of radiotherapy on dental hard tissues increases their susceptibility to demineralization. In addition, irradiation can interfere with the stability of both the enamel and the dentin, compromising the bonding of sealants and leading to microleakage.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the retention and microleakage in two types of pit and fissure sealants of primary teeth post-radiotherapy.

Materials and method: 60 primary molars were allocated into four groups. In the designated 3 teeth, irradiation was carried out, and the sealants were placed as follows: GROUP 1 (n = 15) = EmbraceTM WetbondTM. GROUP 2 (n = 15) = Prevent Seal. Another 30 teeth, which were taken as a control, were not irradiated prior to the placement of the sealant in the following: GROUP 3(n = 15) = EmbraceTM WetbondTM. GROUP 4(n = 15) = Prevent Seal. The specimens were subjected to a fractionated radiation dose of up to 60 Gy, and the sealants were assessed for retention and microleakage.

 Results: When comparing the two sealants, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between them, favouring the Self-etch sealant Prevent seal than acid-etch sealant EmbraceTM WetbondTM.  In retention stability, a higher proportion has been shown in EmbraceTM WetbondTM without irradiation (66.7%) than with irradiation (26.7%). And in Microleakage scores, prevent seal without irradiation (86.6%) revealed a more significant percentage than with irradiation (73.3%).

Conclusion: The self-etch sealant Prevent seal showed higher retention stability and less microleakage than the acid-etch sealant EmbraceTM WetbondTM.