Search Results (12)

Occlusal pits and fissures remain the most vulnerable tooth surfaces for caries initiation, and selecting a sealant that seals these areas reliably is a clinically meaningful question. We investigated the internal adaptation of four pit and fissure sealants—two resin-based and two glass ionomer-based—applied to permanent premolar teeth. Forty extracted premolars were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): Group 1, BeautiSealant (BS); Group 2, 3M Clinpro Sealant; Group 3, GC Fuji IX without surface coating; and Group 4, GC Fuji IX with G-Coat Plus. Following 15,000 thermal cycles, internal adaptation was assessed by X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) using silver nitrate as a tracer. No statistically significant difference was found in the overall mean gap volumes between groups (p = 0.774). The 3M™ Clinpro™ Sealant group exhibited the lowest mean gap value (3.45 ± 1.71), followed by BeautiSealant (3.89 ± 1.34) and GC Fuji IX GP^® with G-Coat Plus™ (4.93 ± 4.09), whereas the GC Fuji IX GP^® without coating group showed the highest mean value (5.56 ± 5.35). Resin-based sealants achieved better fissure penetration and marginal adaptation than the glass ionomer formulations tested, though the differences did not reach statistical significance under the conditions of this study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, disproportionately affecting socially vulnerable populations. This scoping review aimed to analyze the clinical effects of selected minimally invasive materials and approaches, specifically mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride, and glass ionomer-based interventions, for the prevention and management of dental caries in pediatric patients, with emphasis on public health and community-based settings. Methods: This scoping review followed the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Electronic searches were conducted up to 23 January 2026, using tailored strategies for mouthrinses, fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and glass ionomer cements (GICs). Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis focused on clinical outcomes and applicability in public health contexts. Results: Fifty-five RCTs were included. Fluoride- or chlorhexidine-based mouthrinses showed potential in controlling cariogenic biofilm, with evidence primarily based on microbiological outcomes. Fluoride varnishes were associated with enamel remineralization and control of early white spot lesions, particularly in supervised programs. SDF was reported to achieve high caries’ arrest rates in cavitated dentin lesions of primary teeth, while its preventive effect on sound surfaces appeared comparable to other fluoride-based interventions. GICs were associated with acceptable clinical performance as pit-and-fissure sealants and in atraumatic restorative treatment. Conclusions: Minimally invasive dentistry (MID) approaches show promise for the prevention and management of childhood dental caries in public health and community-based settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity of interventions and outcome measures, the predominance of short-term and surrogate (microbiological) outcomes, and the absence of a formal risk-of-bias assessment. As a scoping review, the synthesis is narrative in nature, which limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Further studies with standardized clinical outcomes and longer follow-up are needed to strengthen the evidence. Full article

Introduction: Fluoride-releasing sealants play a crucial role in caries prevention by providing both mechanical protection and controlled ion release. However, the rate and duration of fluoride emission vary depending on material composition and environmental conditions. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify and analyze factors influencing fluoride release and recharge capacity from contemporary dental sealants. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in September 2025 across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and WorldCat using the keywords “fluoride release” AND “sealant.” Study selection followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and predefined PICO-based eligibility criteria. Out of the 375 records initially identified, 16 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the qualitative analysis. Results: Glass-ionomer and resin-modified glass-ionomer sealants (e.g., Fuji VII, Fuji IX, Fuji II LC, Ketac Molar, Vitremer) consistently demonstrated higher fluoride release and superior recharge capacity compared with resin-based sealants (e.g., Clinpro, Helioseal F, BeautiSealant). Most studies reported a biphasic fluoride-release pattern, characterized by an initial burst within the first 24–48 h followed by a slower, sustained phase lasting several weeks. Environmental parameters, including storage medium, pH, and temperature, significantly affected fluoride-release kinetics. Additional outcomes such as enamel remineralization, antibacterial activity, microleakage, and surface hardness were also reported. Conclusions: Both material composition and environmental factors substantially influence fluoride release from dental sealants. Glass-ionomer–based materials demonstrate more durable and higher fluoride release, with acidic conditions enhancing ion diffusion. Clinically, these materials are particularly beneficial for patients at high caries risk, whereas resin-based sealants remain preferable in low-risk cases due to better retention and esthetics. Full article

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of laser surface treatment on the bond strength of adhesive restorative materials to primary teeth. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and WorldCat up to July 2025 using the keywords primary teeth, deciduous teeth, milk teeth, laser, adhesion, bond strength. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria, including 22 shear bond strength (SBS), three microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and one microshear bond strength (µSBS) investigations. Most studies evaluated erbium lasers (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG), while fewer assessed diode, Nd:YAG or KTP devices. In dentin, erbium lasers at low-to-moderate energy levels consistently produced smear-free, micro-retentive surfaces with open tubules and bond strengths comparable to bur-prepared controls. High-energy irradiation, however, frequently caused microcracks, tubule collapse and reduced adhesion. In enamel, phosphoric acid etching remained the most effective conditioning method, although combined laser–acid pretreatment often improved bonding of sealants and composites. Material-dependent effects were also evident: resin composites generally outperformed glass ionomers, hybrids and bioactive restorative materials. Phosphoric acid etching remains indispensable for enamel conditioning, while dentin benefits from carefully controlled erbium laser irradiation in combination with suitable adhesive systems. Full article

The aim is to investigate the impact of retention type, implant/abutment angulation, and the presence of sealant/antimicrobial agents on screw loosening of implant-supported restorations. Fifty dental implants along with their respective abutments and screws were allocated to five groups (n = 10). The groups were categorized based on type of crown retention (screw-/cement-retained), implant/abutment angulation (0°/20°), and type of disinfectant/sealant as follows: Cem_control (cemented/0°/none), Cem_GP (cemented/0°/gutta-percha), Cem_CHX (cemented/0°/chlorhexidine), Cem_Ang (cemented/20°/none), and Screw (screwed/0°/ none). Abutment screws were tightened (20 Ncm), and CAD/CAM zirconia crowns were fabricated. Glass ionomer cement was used for crown cementation in the cemented groups. Samples were subjected to dynamic loading in a chewing simulator (1,200,000 cycles/98 N). After loading, the reverse torque values (RTVs) of the abutment screws were determined (Ncm) using an electronic screwdriver, and the reverse torque difference (RTD) was subsequently calculated. The lowest RTD was reported in group Cem_GP (−2.22 ± 1.03), whereas the highest RTD was seen in group Screw (−4.65 ± 1.79). Group Screw showed a statistically significant difference from all other groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference between the cemented test groups Cem_GP, Cem_CHX, and Cem_Ang and the control group was found. Screw-retained restorations exhibited significantly greater RTD values compared to cement-retained ones. Implant/abutment angulation and the sealant/disinfectant appeared to have no notable effect on the screw stability of single-implant restorations. Full article

Background/Objectives: School-based caries prevention can increase access to critical dental services and reduce oral health inequities. However, little is known regarding the incidence of dental caries in children participating in school caries prevention, and caries diagnosis is often interval censored. Methods: In this paper, we used data from a longitudinal, school-based, randomized clinical trial of minimally invasive treatments for dental caries to estimate the per-visit incidence rate and compare the hazard of dental caries in children receiving either silver diamine fluoride or glass ionomer dental sealants. To account for interval censoring, we used semiparametric transformation models for univariate failure time data and imputed caries incidence using G-imputation. Results: There were 3040 children that met inclusion criteria for analysis, 1516 (49.9%) of which were randomly assigned to receive silver diamine fluoride and 1524 (50.1%) were assigned to receive glass ionomer dental sealants and atraumatic restorations. There were no differences in the hazard of caries between treatments (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.72, 1.24), while children with caries at baseline had a significant increase in the hazard of new caries (HR = 2.54, 95% CI = 2.26, 2.83) compared to those that were caries free. The per-visit caries incidence ranged from 4.8 to 11.1 at the individual level and increased with each successive study observation. Conclusions: School-based caries prevention can positively affect caries incidence, and the results can be used to inform future program design and implementation. Full article

Background and Objective: Sealant application is a proven method to prevent occlusal caries; however, long-term studies on this topic are scarce. This study aimed to assess the survival rate and clinical effectiveness of glass ionomer cement (GIC) and resin-based sealants (RBSs) on second permanent molars over a long-term follow-up period. Materials and methods: Sixteen patients aged 11–13 years with all four completely erupted permanent second molars were enrolled in the study. All patients attended 1-year and 3-year follow-ups; however, one participant did not respond after 10 years and was excluded from the final analyses. The oral health status evaluation was based on WHO criteria. A total of 32 teeth received an RBS (Clinpro), and a further 32 teeth were sealed with GIC (Fuji IX). The sealant retention was determined according to the Kilpatrick criteria after 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years, respectively. Statistical analysis included a chi-square test, the Kaplan–Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: At baseline, seven boys and eight girls participated in the study, with a mean age of 12.3 ± 0.9 years. The 1-year follow-up results revealed that 90% of the RBSs and 43.3% of the GIC sealants were completely retained, and no caries lesions were recorded (p = 0.01). The 3-year follow-up results showed that 23.3% of the RBSs and 0% of the GIC sealants demonstrated complete retention (p = 0.034). Moreover, 10.0% of the occlusal surfaces in the RBS group and 13.3% of the occlusal surfaces in the GIC group were filled (p > 0.05). A total of 6.7% of the RBSs showed complete retention. One-third of the sealed teeth (30.0% of the teeth sealed with RBSs and 36.7% of teeth applied with GIC) were filled after 10 years. The Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a higher survival rate in the RBS group when compared with the GIC over the entire follow-up period (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Although the survival rate of RBSs was higher than GIC sealants, their effectiveness in preventing fissure caries in permanent second molars did not differ significantly over a 10-year follow-up. Full article

The effect of a surface pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG)-containing sealant on the demineralization inhibition and remineralization of intact enamel adjacent to the sealant material was investigated. BeautiSealant (BTS, S-PRG sealant, Shofu), Teeth Mate F-12.0 (TMF, fluoride-releasing sealant, Kuraray Noritake Dental), and an experimental silica-filler sealant were investigated. After pH cycling for 10 days, the enamel surface adjacent to the sealant material was observed using confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The polymerized sealant disks were immersed in a demineralized solution (pH: 4.3) to measure pH change. The enamel specimens with polymerized sealant disks were additionally immersed in demineralized solution, followed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The demineralized area of BTS was significantly smaller than that of TMF and SS (p < 0.05). The surfaces adjacent to the sealant of TMF and SS were demineralized, while the surface of BTS was comparatively intact. An increase in pH values were observed in the BTS and TMF groups. Enamel surfaces presented an inhibition of demineralization for BTS and TMF, but not for SS. Fluoride uptake from the polymerized sealant was greater for BTS than for TMF. The S-PRG-containing sealant showed a buffering ability, demineralization inhibition, promotion of remineralization, and it can be advised for clinical applications. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the penetration and adaptation of highly viscous zinc-reinforced glass ionomer cement (ZRGIC), using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), when applied under various contaminated conditions on grooves and fissures of primary second molars. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 extracted human primary second molars were randomly assigned into five groups (8 teeth each), with different surface conditions (conditioned with 40% polyacrylic acid, dry condition, water contamination, saliva contamination, or saliva contamination and air-drying) on the occlusal surface before placement of zinc-reinforced highly viscous glass ionomer cement with the finger-press technique. After sectioning the teeth, they were subjected to SEM analysis, where four in each group underwent aging by thermocycling and the other four were without aging. ANOVA tests, post hoc analysis, and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: There was a significant statistical difference in the sealant penetration in the non-aging group, but in the aging group, there was no significant statistical difference in the sealant penetration. On other hand, a significant statistical difference was found in the adaptation between all the groups (p < 0.05). Highly viscous zinc-reinforced glass ionomer fissure sealants have better fissure penetration and more intimate adaptation under fissures conditioned with 40% polyacrylic acid and dry surface fissures with no contamination. However, the best penetration and retention after aging were under contaminated fissures with a shiny layer of saliva. Conclusions: The ZRGIC is a highly viscous fluoride-releasing cement, effectively seals fissures by interfering with food lodgment and protecting teeth from caries. It is advisable to restore the fissures with the minimal technique of sensitive fluoride-releasing GIC, particularly in young, uncooperative children, rather than leaving a caries-prone environment. Full article

Especially in pediatric dentistry, prevention by the control of initial lesions prior to cavitation is very important, and application of a pit and fissure sealant is essential to achieve this. Numerous reports have suggested that resin-based sealants are inferior to sealants based on glass-ionomer cement (GIC), because of GIC’s many advantages, such as fluoride ion release properties and its good adhesion to tooth structures. However, the use of GIC is impeded due to its low flexural strength and fracture toughness. In this paper, we developed and characterized an apatite-ionomer cement (AIC) that incorporates hydroxyapatite (HAp) into the GIC; this development was aimed at not only reinforcing the flexural and compressive strength but also improving some functional properties for the creation of the material suitable for sealant. We examined the influence of differences in the compounding conditions of GIC powder, liquid, and HAp on flexural and compressive strengths, fracture toughness, fluoride ion release property, shear bond strength to bovine enamel, surface pH of setting cements, and acid buffer capability. These methods were aimed at elucidating the reaction mechanism of porous spherical-shaped HAp (HApS) in AIC. The following observations were deduced. (1) HAp can improve the mechanical strengths of AIC by strengthening the cement matrix. (2) The functional properties of AIC, such as acid buffer capability, improved by increasing the releasing amounts of various ions including fluoride ions. The novel AIC developed in this study is a clinically effective dental material for prevention and remineralization of tooth and initial carious lesion. Full article

Background: The microleakage of a self-adhesive composite, a glass ionomer fissure sealant and a conventional resin-based fissure sealant were compared. Materials and methods: Fifty intact human molars with well-delineated pits and fissures were used and divided into 5 groups (n = 10). Group 1 specimens were etched (37% phosphoric acid) and sealed with conventional resin-based sealant (Helioseal F, Ivoclar Vivadent). Both Group 2 and 3 specimens were sealed with self-adhesive composite (Constic, DMG), but in Group 3, specimens were also etched (37% phosphoric acid). In Groups 4 and 5, specimens were sealed with a GIC sealant (Equia Fill, GC Company), but Group 5 was also exposed to thermo-light curing (TLC) with a LED polymerization unit (60 s). Subsequently, specimens were thermocycled (1800 cycles, dwelling time of 10 s), immersed in 50% silver nitrate solution (45 min), placed in a photo-developing solution (Kodak) under a lamp (120 W, 6 h), and cut into 3–4 slices. Marginal leakage (dye penetration depth) was evaluated under a light microscope and the worst score of each specimen was recorded (0–3). Results: Constic showed the lowest microleakage (Constic: 80% scored 0 or 1), followed by Helioseal (30% scored 0 or 1) (p = 0.037). Microleakage in groups sealed with Constic (with and without etching) were not different (p = 0.473). The quality of seal deteriorated after etching when Constic was used. However, TLC improved the seal when GIC sealant was used (p = 0.016) and also in comparison to Helioseal (p = 0.004). The TLC GIC sealant (Equia Fill, 90% scored 0 or 1) performed well, similar to self-adhesive composite (Constic, 80% scored 0 or 1) (p = 0.206). Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the self-adhesive sealant and the GIC sealant that were exposed to TLC had comparable sealing ability and superior sealing characteristics compared to the conventional resin-based sealant. A long-term clinical trial is needed to assess the intra-oral performance. Full article

This comprehensive community health intervention aimed to improve the oral health and reduce the incidence of dental caries in Tabuk schoolchildren. The program supports the public health pyramid that provides a framework to improve health and included creating and evaluating a school oral health surveillance system, applying fluoride varnish and dental sealants on high- and medium-caries risk children, and providing treatment for existing diseases. In a pilot phase, 48 children (26 males 22 females; mean age 6.42; dmft 9.33, Decayed, Missing, or Filled Primary and Permanent Teeth (DMFT) 3.27) received the dental services, both treatment and prevention. Three hundred seventy-eight composite resin or resin-modified light-cured glass ionomer restorations were placed. One-hundred and eighteen teeth received pulp therapy (pulpotomy or pulpectomy), ten of which received stainless steel crowns. A total of 72 teeth were extracted due to caries. To understand the effects of dental disease on children, as perceived by parents, an oral health-related quality of life survey was completed and analyzed. Results found an underestimation of the role the teeth play, particularly primary teeth, in the general health and wellbeing of the child. The program’s main evaluation effort focused on the process and outcome objectives, including the number of children received care, number of teeth received restorations and sealants, and number of children received fluoride varnish, etc. Analyzing the effect of the program on oral hygiene revealed an improvement in oral health, as a direct result of oral health educational sessions and one-to-one counseling. There is an urgent need to expand the program to include all primary schools. Full article