Effect of self- etching primer on microleakage of a resin-modified glass ionomer as fissure sealant in cases of saliva contamination

According to high prevalence of caries in occlusal surfaces of teeth in children and adolescents, use of fissure sealant materials has been recommended for many years. In sealant-therapy, improvement of adhesion and ease of handling is important and noticeable particularly impossible isolation situation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of self- etching primer (SE Primer) conditioner and saliva contamination on microleakage of RMGI as sealant. Methods & Materials: In this in vitro and experimental study, 160 human maxillary sound extracted premolars were selected and randomly divided randomly to 8 groups with 20 teeth in each group. Then sealant was applied on them using the following techniques: 1) Conditioner, Primer + RMGI - 2) Conditioner + RMGI - 3) Conditioner, Saliva + RMGI - 4) Conditioner, Saliva, Primer + RMGI - 5) RMGI alone- 6) Saliva, Primer + RMGI - 7) Primer + RMGI - 8) Saliva+ RMGI. After thermocycling (500 cycles) and immersion in %0.5 basic fushion, the teeth were sectioned and evaluated for dye penetration by stereomicroscope (x12) (0-4 scale). Statistically analysis was done by nonparametric test (Kruskal - Wallis). The results showed that the microleakage is significantly increased by saliva contamination. As well using conditioner or primer alone, has significant effect on reducing microleakage of RMGI, but simultaneous use of primer and conditioner in a situation without saliva contamination can increase microleakage. With Saliva contamination, using the primer can reduce micorleakge. On the base of this study, using the acidic primer prior to applying RMGI on either isolated condition or saliva contamination, can reduce microleakage significantly.