Handling and clinical performance of a glass ionomer sealant.

PURPOSE

To compare the handling and 6-month clinical performance of an experimental resin-modified glass ionomer cement (K-512 = Fuji III LC) with that of a light-cured resin-based sealant (Delton Opaque) when used as a pit and fissure sealant in 15-27 year old subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen patients with 65 cement and 55 resin-based sealants were recalled after 6 months for clinical examination and color photographs.

RESULTS

Sealant retention failures requiring retreatment were 74% for the glass ionomer cement sealant and 11% for the resin-based sealant, with one instance of fissure caries being found for each material. The resin-modified glass ionomer cement sealant showed a slight darkening from its initial placement, and was also more difficult to handle than the resin-based sealant.