Effect of Precuring and Postcuring of Total-Etch and Self-Etch Bonding Agents on the Microleakage of Fissure Sealants

OBJECTIVES: Considering the importance of timesaving in pediatric dentistry, if the efficacy is achieved along with shorter working time and less technical sensitivity, the behavior management of young patients can be anticipated. This study aimed to compare the effect of precuring and postcuring of total-etch and self-etch bonding agents on the microleakage of sealants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on forty impacted third molars, which were surgically extracted. The samples were divided into five groups: 1. Control (etching and sealant), 2. Precured fifth-generation bonding agent (Adper Single Bond 2) and fissure sealant, 3. Postcured fifth-generation bonding agent (Adper Single Bond 2) and fissure sealant, 4. Precured seventh-generation bonding agent (Single Bond Universal) and fissure sealant, and 5. Postcured seventh-generation bonding agent (Single Bond Universal) and fissure sealant. All specimens were thermocycled (×1000), immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsine solution for 24 hours, sectioned, digitally photographed, and measured using the LAS EZ program. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s tests. RESULTS: Leakage in the control group and the third group was significantly lower than that in other groups. In pairwise comparisons, a significant difference was found between the control group and the fifth group and between the third group and the fifth group. CONCLUSION: The conventional method of sealant placement showed superior results in comparison with the use of an intermediate layer of the bonding agent.