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Retention and caries-preventive effect of four different sealants - A 2-year prospective split-mouth study.

AIM
The aim of this observational split-mouth study was to compare the retention and caries protective effect of four different sealing materials in children aged 6-13 years during 2-year follow-up period.


DESIGN
This was a observational split-mouth prospective 2-year study.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
There were 80 children included in this study which was conducted in Blato (Korčula island) Croatia. Each participant received at least two different sealing materials on caries-free permanent molars in two different quadrants. Sealing materials (M1 - glass ionomer cement; M2, M4 - resin-based filled sealants; M3 - resin-based unfilled sealant) were delivered in a random order.


RESULTS
The results of this study showed that M2 (30 teeth, 46.2%) and M4 (27 teeth, 46.6%) showed statistically significantly higher number of teeth with total retention after 2-year follow-up period, in comparison to M1 (10 teeth, 19.2%) or M3 (12 teeth, 20.7%) (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in caries occurrence between different groups, considering the teeth with total retention of the sealing material used.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the results of this study resin-based sealing materials showed better retention during 2-year follow-up period while both resin-based and glass ionomer sealants demonstrated protection against dental caries if totally retained on the tooth occlusal surface.