Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF HYDROPHOBIC AND HYDROPHILIC PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS AMONG SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN OF HALDIA- A SHORT INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

*Dr. Pooja Hampannavar and Dr. Jaydeep Samanta

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Abstract

Background: Pit and fissure sealants facilitate to prevent/arrest caries development and contribute to a significant portion of reducing caries disease burden amongst the school going children. Most of the commercially available resin-based pit and fissure sealants are hydrophobic materials that bond to the enamel surface via micromechanically interlocking tags. This hydrophilic pit and fissure sealants can efficiently seal the teeth at risk for carious lesions. This improved adhesion and the ability to produce smooth margins entails the longevity and clinical efficacy in retention. Aim: To assess and compare the retention of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pit and fissure sealants among 7–10-year-old school children of Haldia town, West Bengal. Materials and Method: This is an interventional split mouth designed study in a school-based setting that was done between May 2022-November 2022. the study design was a split-mouth study, 50 subjects were chosen to deliver a total 100 interventions. Ten schools were approached and explained the nature and purpose of the study and among them only two schools provided their consent for the study. Clinical procedure was carried out on each subject by placement of one of the interventions on the right mandibular molar on the 1st day and the other intervention was placed on the left side of mandibular teeth on subsequent day. A total of 100 interventions, 2 for each patient, on the left and right side were placed. The subjects were asked not to rinse the mouth for 30 minutes and consume any food substances for about one hour after placing the interventions [Intervention A: Hydrophobic pit and fissure sealants- (Helioseal® Assortment, Ivoclarvivadent AG) and Intervention B: Hydrophilic pit and fissure sealants (Embrace wet bond, Pulpdent Corporation, Watertown, USA)]. Results: The difference between the interventions in terms of retention was not statistically significant with a p value of 0.999 and 0.78 at the end of 3rd and 6th month respectively. The difference in marginal discoloration was not statistically significant, with a p value of 0.939 and 0.776 respectively and chi square values of 0.929 and 0.335 at the end of 3rd and 6th month respectively. The difference in marginal adaptation between the interventions was not statistically significant at the end of 3rd (p Value = 0.682) and 6th month (p Value =0.458).The difference in experiencing post-operative sensitivity between the interventions was not statistically significant at the end of 3rd month with p value of 0.942) and at 6th month p value of 1.000. The difference in surface roughness between the interventions was not statistically significant at the end of third month with p Value of 0.001 and sixth month of p Value of 0.005). Conclusion: It can be concluded that hydrophilic (Intervention B) sealant may be used as effective pit and fissure sealants especially in children with high risk of caries, excessive salivation, differentially abled, very young children, uncooperative child, and partially erupted molars.

Keywords: Caries, Retention, Marginal discoloration, Marginal Adaptation, Post-operative sensitivity.