Wear Resistance Of Bioactive With And Without Etching Vs. Conventional Resin-Based Fissure Sealants

This group received BeautiSealant (a bioactive giomer-based sealant) applied after etching the enamel surface with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds. The etching process creates micro-retentive patterns in the enamel to enhance micromechanical bonding, potentially improving the sealant's retention and wear resistance while also benefiting from the bioactive material's fluoride release and enamel remineralization properties.

In this group, BeautiSealant was applied directly to the tooth surface without prior etching. The goal was to simplify the procedure by eliminating the etching step, relying instead on the sealant's chemical bonding and bioactive properties (such as fluoride release and S-PRG technology) to maintain retention and resist wear, while reducing the risk of enamel alteration and improving clinical efficiency.

This group served as the control and received Fisseal (a conventional resin-based sealant) applied following standard etching with 37% phosphoric acid. This method is considered the gold standard for fissure sealing, offering strong micromechanical adhesion and proven wear resistance, making it a reliable benchmark for evaluating the performance of newer bioactive materials.