Fissure Sealants

Question 1

Define Fissure Sealant

Answer 1

a material that is placed in the pits and fissures of teeth in order to prevent the development of dental caries

Question 2

What are the 2 Types of Prevention? Describe them.

Answer 2

• Primary prevention – prevent lesions
• Secondary prevention – inhibit the progression of non-cavitated carious lesions as
  part of a comprehensive caries management approach

Question 3

How much % Do Fissure Sealants Reduce Caries?

Answer 3

60%

Question 4

What is the Retention Rate for Fissure Sealants?

Answer 4

52% for 4 years

Question 5

What are the 2 Selections for Fissure Sealants?

Answer 5

Patient selection
- high risk
- medical conditions

Tooth selection
- susceptible sites
- e.g palatal pits on upper lat incisors
- 2nd primary molars - far back

Question 6

What do you Discuss When Placing Fissure Sealants on Teeth?

Answer 6

• depth of fissure
• hypoplasia
• inaccessibility for cleaning
• molar-incisor hypomineralisation

Question 7

What are the 4 Types of Fissure Sealants?

Answer 7

1. Resin-Based
2. GI
3. Polyacid-modified resin
4. Resin-modified GI

Question 8

Describe Resin-Based Sealants. Give 1 Example.

Answer 8

ClinPro

• Contains UDMA and BIS-GMA
• Chemical/light cured - can be filled or unfilled
• Colourless, opaque or tinted
• Hydrophobic

Question 9

Describe GI Sealants. Give 1 Example.

Answer 9

Fuji Triage.

• Contains fluoroaluminosilicate glass powder with a polyacrylic acid solution
• Has fluoride releasing properties and hydrophilic

Question 10

Describe Polyacid-Modified Resin Sealants. Give 1 Example.

Answer 10

Vitroseal Alpha

• contains compomers
• combines resin-based with the fluoride releasing properties of GIC

Question 11

Describe Resin-Modified GI Sealants. Give 1 Example.

Answer 11

Fuji IX

• GI w/ resin components
• longer working time
• less water sensitivity than GI
• similar fluoride release to GIC

Question 12

6 Steps How to Use a Fissure Sealant

Answer 12

1. Clean pits and fissures
2. Isolate the tooth - moisture control
3. Etch, wash and dry
   - continue until the tooth is frosty in appearance = good retention
4. Bonding Agent
   - improve strength of retention
5. Light Cure
6. Evaluate
   - inspect for cracks

Question 13

Why Would you Place Fissure Sealants on Hypomineralised teeth?

Answer 13

• enamel hasn’t formed properly
• lower mineral content
• more susceptible to caries

1. protection from decay
2. strengthen enamel
3. smoothen the tooth surface
4. reduce sensitivity

Question 14

Describe Preventative resin restorations

Answer 14

restorations of a carious lesion into dentine, where the lesion is limited to areas of the tooth not bearing occlusal loads

Question 15

Why would you use a Resin Restoration as Prevention?

Answer 15

improve aesthetic
minimal wear
halt caries progression
shorter preparation time

Question 16

If a Lesion is in an area which bears occlusal loads, do you still use preventative resin?

Answer 16

no, uses a class 1 restoration - composite or amalgam

Question 17

How do you use Preventative Resin Restorations?

Answer 17

• local anaesthetic
• high speed diamond
• etch
• apply restoration
• seal the rest of the tooth

Question 18

In which situations are the failure rates higher for fissure sealants?

Answer 18

• newly erupted teeth
• previous high caries risk