Pit And Fissure Sealants

A sealant is a plastic like material that is clear or opaque which is placed on the pit and fissure surfaces of the teeth where dental caries most commonly occurs. The sealant acts as a barrier to occlude and protect the pit and fissure surfaces from food and bacteria, as the sealant removes the deeper anatomy and ensures better oral hygiene since the tooth is easier to clean.
Sealants have been used in clinical practice for many decades, so over the past few years sealants have gone through many changes in their structure and usage for better and easier application.
The first-generation sealants were liquid resins placed on the tooth surface and underwent polymerization with ultraviolet light. These sealants were replaced with sealants that
Discussion:
The pit and fissure sealants are an important method to prevent pit and fissure caries, by forming a seal that helps by blocking the entry of nutrients to the bacteria that is present in the dental caries. These surfaces are more vulnerable than any other surfaces of the tooth, hence the use of the sealant is an important step in caries prevention[4].
Commercially hydrophobic based resin sealants are available, which is highly technique sensitive and the success depends on factors such as patient co-operation, operator variability and contamination of the operating field. But the most difficult aspect of these sealants is the need of highly moisture free field making it difficult to place on erupting molars [5].
A study was conducted to compare and evaluate hydrophobic and hydrophilic pit and fissure sealants where the two groups of children used hydrophobic and hydrophilic fissure sealants and it was concluded that the second group of sealants provided better results and was highly recommended to be used in children who were very young ,high risk of caries, excessive salivation, mentally challenged and disabled, unco-operative and community care
It is one of the endocrine disrupting chemicals and that has caused some concern regarding exposure to BPA and its effects on the human body. Laboratory studies also indicated gene mutation as a potential effect with exposure. BPA stimulates cell proliferation and induces multiplication of oestrogen like cells that initiate mammary gland and uterine differentiation [8].
Although studies have proven that most dental materials do not release BPA except few resins such as the Pit and fissure sealants. But the amount that is released is about 0.05mg/kg bw/day which by ADA has been reported as safe levels [9]. Evidence shows that BPA released from resins does not pose any threat. But because of the toxic effects of BPA it is recommended that the release of this chemical from resins be prevented. Research is still being continued so study if even the low levels of BPA could pose a threat and cause oestrogenic effects as time progresses.
Embrace WetBond sealants prove to be also one of the few sealants that are not composed of Bis-GMA, hence being a one of a kind