The results of self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite application for primary molars fissure sealing in children

Relevance. The use of light-cure sealants and flowable composites for fissure sealing in children is difficult due to the complexity of the procedure. The research aimed to study the efficiency of self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite for fissure sealing in primary molars in children.Materials and methods. The Local Ethical Committee permission and written informed voluntary consents from the parents were obtained before the study. Non-invasive fissure sealing with self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite (Constic, DMG, Germany) was performed in 48 primary molars in 48 children aged 2-5 years (mean 41.2 ± 1.3 months). After 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, the sealant’s retention (%) and frequency (%) of occlusal caries development, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The significance of the difference was assessed by the Student’s t-test.Results. After 6 and 12 months, complete sealant’s retention was revealed in 75.0% (CI 61.2-85.1%) and 60.4% (CI 46.3-73.0%) molars, p > 0.05; it decreased to 27.1% (CI 16.6-41.0%) and 18.7% (CI 10.2-31.9%), p > 0.05, after 18 and 24 months. Complete loss of the sealant was noted in 8.3-18.7% cases. The first caries lesion (2.1%, CI 0.4-10.9%) on the surface with the lost sealant was revealed after 12 months, after 24 months – 4.2% (CI 1.1-14.0%).Conclusions. In primary molars after non-invasive fissure sealing with self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite, complete loss of the sealant was from 8.3% to 18.7% after 6-24 months post-op, partial loss was from 8.3% to 31.3%. Occlusal caries was revealed in 6.3% cases after the sealant loss.