Clinical and SEM assessment of ART high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants after 8-13 years in 4 teeth.

Contains fulltext : 87346.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVES: Resin composite sealants are retained longer than low-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants. Nevertheless, a systematic review showed that there is no evidence that resin composite sealants are superior to low-viscosity glass-ionomers in preventing dentine carious lesion development. This case study aimed to investigate reasons for this. METHODS: 4 teeth were sealed with 2 brands of high-viscosity glass-ionomer according to the ART technique in 2 children aged 10 and 11.5 years, having a low caries-risk status, and followed clinically for between 8 and 13 years. At the final year, impressions were taken for SEM images that were assessed by two evaluators. RESULTS: Pits and fissures that were clinically diagnosed as free of sealant material appeared to contain remnants of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealant material in the deeper parts of pits and fissures, on SEM images of 3 teeth. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the likelihood that remnants of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealant material are retained and block the deeper parts of pits and fissures even after the sealant appears to have disappeared clinically, exercising their carious lesion preventive effect