This document discusses dental sealants, which are materials applied to teeth to prevent decay. It notes that over 85% of children have cavities in pits and fissures on their teeth. Sealants are effective at preventing decay, with 68% of sealed teeth remaining cavity-free compared to just 17% of unsealed teeth. The document outlines considerations for applying sealants and the various types of materials used. It compares chemical-cured and light-cured sealants and notes advantages and disadvantages of each.

1. Professor : Dr. Merlin A. Go
Subject/Section : DCD 121 / DBB
Schedule : TTH * 17:30_18:30 * D 509
Name : Khafi Makoo, Noorallah

2. Defined as
• A material applied to occlusal surfaces of the
teeth in order to obliterate the occlusal fissures
and remove the sheltered environment in which
caries may thrive.

3. • Bacteria produces
acid which causes
decay
• “demineralization”

4. • Over 85% of children (5-17 years old) in US have caries in
the pits and fissures
• Fluoride is least effective on pit and fissures
• Only 18% of school-aged children in US have sealants

5. • 15 year study – 68% of sealed teeth were
caries free vs 17% of unsealed control group

6. • Community water
fluoridation
• School water
fluoridation
• Fluoridated toothpaste
• Fluoride mouthrinse
• In-office treatment
• 50-60% (18-40%)
• 40%
• 15-30%
• 31%
• 26%

7. • Tooth brushing and flossing - mechanical
plaque removal
• Fluoride – chemical prevention
• Dental visits – mechanical plaque removal
and chemical prevention

8. Diet
• Minimize exposure to cariogenic foods and
liquids that have little or no nutritional value
• Minimize solid and sticky foods
• Minimize slowly dissolving foods

9. • Acrylic polymers introduced to dentistry – 1937
• Composites – 1960
• “Occlusal Sealing” – 1965
• Glass ionomers – 1972

10. Considerations:
• Patient age
• Oral hygiene
• Caries risk
• Diet
• Fluoride history
• Tooth type
• Morphology

11. • Deep fissures
• Incomplete or ill formed pits
• Newly erupted teeth
• High caries rate
• Children
• Molars

12. • Shallow fissures
• Well coalesced pits
• Fluoride rich enamel
• Low caries rate
• Occlusal or proximal caries
• Adults

13. • Cavity Indicators
• Drying and/or bonding agent (optional)
• Acid etch
• Sealant material

14. • Gel
• Liquid
• 3M Innovation: Adper™
Prompt™ L-Pop™ Self-Etch
Adhesive

15. Chemical cured – “autopolymerization”
• Base and catalyst
Monomer & Initiator + Diluted monomer & 5% Organic Amine
Accelerator = Sealant
Visible light cured – “photopolymerization”
• Pre-mixed
Dimethacrylate + Diluent + Activator + Light = Sealant

16. Advantages
• No cure light or risk of eye damage
• Can apply sealants to several teeth
Disadvantages
• Variation in setting time (appx 2 min)
• Voids from mixing material
• Changes in viscosity over time

17. Advantages
• Short setting time (appx 20 seconds)
• No mixing required
• Won’t set-up – longer working time
• Does not get thick
Disadvantages
• Potential eye damage due to light cure
• Additional cost of cure light
• Cure time increased with number of teeth sealed
• Difficult to manipulate cure light for posterior teeth

20. • Clear
• Tinted
• Opaque

21. • Mechanical bonding – interlocking
• Chemical bonding – use of adhesive
• Physical bonding – attraction of atomic charges

22. • Check the operation of the syringe on gauze

24. • CAUTION – Avoid looking directly at the light

25. • Main cause – moisture
contamination
• Maxillary and mandibular
2nd molars
• Early loss means less
retention of the resin

26.  Jong’s Community Dental Health, 5th Edition ,
chapter 7.
 Essintial of clinical periodontology and
periodondices , 2nd Edition , chapter 37.
 http://en.wikipedia.org

27. THANK
YOU