Comparative Analysis of Techniques for Pit and Fissure Sealant Application to Reduce Microleakage

Introduction In modern dentistry, the focus is more on preventing caries than on treating it, which helps preserve the tooth structure. Pit and fissure sealants (PFS) are the most effective methods for providing a mechanical barrier and avoiding the accumulation of dental plaque in deep pits and fissures, thereby preventing occlusal caries. The present study was conducted to compare the efficiency of dentin bonding agents (DBA) with or without fissurotomy in reducing microleakage before PFS placement. Materials and methods A total of 48 freshly extracted premolars were randomly divided into four groups as follows: Group 1, the conventional technique of PFS (Clinpro, 3M ESPE sealant); Group 2, fissurotomy performed before PFS placement; Group 3, Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (3M ESPE DBA) applied before PFS placement; and Group 4, fissurotomy along with DBA was used before PFS placement. The teeth were subjected to thermocycling followed by dye penetration using a 1% solution of methylene blue for 24 hours. All teeth were then assessed for microleakage by a qualitative method using a stereomicroscope at 40X and depth of dye penetration by image analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's test was used for intergroup comparisons of microleakage scores, and ANOVA followed by Tukey's test was used for intergroup comparisons of the depth of dye penetration. These analyses were conducted using statistical software (SPSS version 22, Chicago, IL, USA). Results Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the microleakage scores and depth of dye penetration (p<0.05). The group 4 showed a minimum microleakage score (0.50 +/- 0.52), and maximum scores were observed in Group 1 (2.16 +/- 0.71). Group 2 showed insignificant differences with groups 3 and 4 for depth of dye penetration (p>0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between groups 1 and 2, groups 1 and 4, and groups 3 and 4 for the microleakage score (p<0.05). Conclusion Fissurotomy with or without DBA significantly reduced microleakage before the PFS placement. Prior use of fourth-generation DBA significantly reduced microleakage compared with PFS placement without the use of DBA.