Comparative Evaluation of Micro Tensile Bond Strength and Microleakage of Ionoseal Glass-Composite as a Fissure Sealant Material, Following Four Different Enamel Surface Pretreatments

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Sealants are employed to prevent carious lesion initiation and to arrest caries progression by providing a physical barrier that inhibits accumulation of microorganisms and food particles in pits and fissures. The two most common materials used for sealing pits and fissures are resins and glass-ionomers. Ionoseal from VOCO company is one of the light curing glass-ionomer composite cements, whose mechanical properties should be investigated. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the micro tensile bond strength and micro leakage of Ionoseal with different surface pretreatments. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This in vitro experimental study was conducted on five groups of 95 sound human premolars. Each group consisted of five teeth for the micro tensile test and 14 teeth for the micro leakage test. The groups regarding the materials and the methods used were defined as Group 1: 35% phosphoric acid + total etch adhesive + Ionoseal, Group 2: universal adhesive+Ionoseal, Group 3: 35% phosphoric acid + Ionoseal,Group 4: Ionoseal, and Group 5 (control group): 35% phosphoric acid+Embrace fissure sealant. On the pre-pared buccal enamel of each tooth, a 5 mm block of the sealing material was created and thermo cycled. The specimens were serial sectioned to a cross section of about 1×1mm and loaded in a tensile pressure (0.5 mm/min) until failure occurred. For the micro leakage test, the sealing material was placed into the prepared occlusal fissures and teeth were thermo cycled, and then immersed in 5%methylene blue. A section was made buccolingually; the dye penetration rate was measured based on Williams and Winter criteria under a stereomi-croscope. Data was analyzed with one-way ANOVA test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Mean micro tensile bond strength was significantly different between the groups (p< 0.001), and was significantly higher in Group 1. There was no significant difference between the frequency of modes of failure (p= 0.81). The rate of micro leakage was significantly different between the five groups (p< 0.001) and in Group 1 and 3; it was significantly lower than the other three groups. CONCLUSION: Ionoseal can be used successfully as a fissure sealant material. Etching the enamel surface with phosphoric acid is necessary and the use of a bonding agent before Ionoseal placement improves results.