MICROLEAKAGE ASSESSMENT OF AN ADHESIVE SYSTEM USED AS A FISSURE SEALANT

Introduction: Some studies demonstrated that adhesive systems can act as a substitute for the resin sealants to seal fissure. Therefore, it may be possible to simplify the technique by using the adhesive agent as a fissure sealant. The aim of this study was to determine the microleakage of dentine adhesive (Optibond solo plus) used as a fissure sealant. Materials & Methods: In this study, 60 intact pre-molars were chosen and divided into 3 groups. 1. Etching + opti bond soloplus, 2. Etching + Fissure sealant (synergy) 3. Etching + optibond soloplus + fissure sealant. Then the teeth were thermocycled for 500 times for 20 seconds and finally placed in distilled water. All teeth were sealed apically and coated within 1.5 mm of the sealant margin with two layers of nail varnish. The teeth were immersed in 0.5 fushin for 48 hours, and then the teeth were washed and cut off parallel to the long axis. The samples were studied in order to assess the amount of microleakage under the stereomicroscope with a magnification of 40, and were given a grading of 0 to 3. Finally, the data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between groups 1 and 2, groups 1 and 3 and groups 2 and 3. Group 2 (fissure sealant) showed the highest microleakage scores and group 1 (Optibond solo plus) showed the lowest microleakage. Conclusion: It seems that Optibond solo plus could be used as a fissure sealant. In addition, according to study results, application of Optibond solo plus before application of fissure sealant would also reduce microleakage.