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. 2011 Nov 23;5:179–186. doi: 10.2174/1874210601105010179

Efficacy of Light-Activated Sealant on Enamel Demineralization in Orthodontic Patients: An Atomic Force Microscope Evaluation

Suzi F Shinaishin a, Safaa A Ghobashy b, Tarek H EL-Bialy b,c,*
PMCID: PMC3242403  PMID: 22207889

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of (Pro Seal) sealant in preventing enamel decalcification in-vivo and compare its effect with fluoride varnish and unfilled sealant using atomic force microscopy.

Materials and Methods:

Eight orthodontic patients who were candidates for extraction of all first premolars for orthodontic treatment were recruited to this study. Thirty two premolars (upper and lower) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) for each group, 4 maxillary and 4 mandibular); Control (no -treatment); Fluoride varnish, Unfilled sealant (Light Bond) and filled sealant (Pro-Seal). After two months the brackets were debonded and the teeth were extracted and prepared for Atomic force microscopic scanning. Each sample was scanned twice at two different scan areas 50 and 10µm at the buccal cervical third of the crown. Images were recorded with slow scan rate and resolution and the mean roughness height and total surface area were calculated for each scan area. Comparison between groups was performed using one way analysis of variance test with level of significance was set to be 0.05.

Results:

Pro Seal treated samples show the lowest roughness height and total surface area.

Conclusion:

Pro Seal was the most effective prophylaxis technique in preventing enamel demineralization during orthodontic treatment.

Keywords: Orthodontic bonding, atomic force microscopy, enamel surface roughness.

INTRODUCTION

Enamel demineralization is an undesirable outcome of orthodontic fixed appliance therapy, especially in patients with poor oral hygiene. This lesion can jeopardize the esthetic benefits of orthodontic therapy [1]. Placing of fixed orthodontic appliance alters the oral environment, causing both quantitative and qualitative changes in dental plaque [2]. Enamel demineralization adjacent to bonded orthodontic brackets might be partly due to the rough, retentive and decalcified surface of enamel produced by acid etching and lack of sealant [3]. Demineralization has been reported as much as 50% of teeth treated with brackets and in up to 50% of orthodontic patients [4-6].

To optimize results of orthodontic treatment, decalcification prophylaxis is particularly important during active orthodontic mechanotherapy [7]. Many proposed strategies are similar to measures of general caries prevention, such as patient motivation, nutritional counseling, plaque staining, professional tooth cleaning [8], chlorhexidine use [9] and fluoridation [10, 11]. Enamel demineralization has been demonstrated in vivo around orthodontic brackets after only 1 month [11]. It is widely accepted that fluoride exerts its anticariogenic properties by the formation of fluoroapatite in the outer enamel surface that has low solubility in acid environment [12]. Reports suggest that topical fluoride applications in the form of toothpastes, [11, 13] gels, [14] rinses, [5, 11, 13, 15] and fluoride varnishes [16] might reduce or eliminate decalcification during fixed orthodontic treatment. However, the effectiveness of these products is directly related to the patient’s compliance, resulting in only limited benefit [14, 17].

New materials have been introduced to orthodontists that protect the susceptible area adjacent to bonded orthodontic attachment, and require no patient compliance. One approach is to use glass ionomer cement for band cementation and bonding orthodontic brackets [18, 19]. Another promising material is fluoride releasing resin [20, 22]. However, there is a need for improvement in both glass ionomers and fluoride releasing resins before these products will gain wide acceptance in orthodontic bonding [23-26].

Application of resin sealant on the enamel surface around and beneath the orthodontic bracket was thought to provide several benefits such as increased bond strength, sealing of etched enamel, and protection against demineralization around orthodontic brackets [27,28]. The chemically cured sealants do not effectively seal smooth enamel surface, because of oxygen inhibition of polymerization [29-31]. On the other hand, light-cured sealants have been proven to cure completely on smooth enamel surfaces and prevent enamel demineralization effectively in-vitro [31, 32]. However, in-vivo studies demonstrated that the light-cured unfilled resin could not provide more protection than the chemically cured sealant, as wearing off or breaks in the sealant layer might result in decalcification [33].

Pro Seal, a new highly filled light-cured resin, can be considered for use as a preventive method to reduce enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic attachments, particularly in patients who exhibit poor compliance with oral hygiene and home fluoride use. It was claimed, by the manufacturer, to protect enamel surface and withstand mechanical (tooth brushing) and chemical (acid attack) wearing [3]. Pro Seal was not supposed to have a negative influence on shear-peel bond strength in vitro. Previous evaluation showed no significant change in shear-peel bond strength either when Pro Seal was used in addition, or when that fluoride-releasing, light-curing sealant was substituted for the bonding agent [34, 35].

The initial stage in enamel dissolution involves demineralization of the outer few micrometers of tissue due to penetration of acids, leading to loss of calcium and phosphate, which results in softening of the structure [36]. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is considered an ideal method for biological imaging, since specimens do not need to be dehydrated, fixed stained or coated [37]. Moreover, it has an advantage over other ultra high vacuum measuring equipments as the specimen is imaged in its hydrated state in open air condition at room temperature. Thus enamel is not subjected to dehydration and high pressure difference that could affect topographical features. The principle of surface area calculation by AFM depends on the acquisition of 3-D topographical surface data taking in consideration the variation in surface height in Z- direction [38].

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Pro seal in preventing decalcification in vivo using AFM and compare its effect with fluoride varnish and unfilled sealant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight female patients (13-15 years) from the postgraduate orthodontic clinic at Tanta University with class I Angle malocclusion were recruited for the present study. All patients received full bonded straight wire system (American Orthodontics, USA). All patients and parents consented to participate in this study and all work was in compliance with ethics regulation at Tanta University. All patients required extraction of their four first premolars for orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance. The premolars were free from cracks, caries or filling and have a sufficient clinical crown length to allow bracket placement at the standardized position. The patients were provided with oral hygiene instructions.

In each patient, the four first premolars were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: control (No treatment); fluoride varnish; filled sealant and unfilled sealant. This distribution allows the same environment for all the tested teeth, so we had four subgroups each contained 8 premolars (4 maxillary and 4 mandibular), study design illustrated in Fig. (1).

Fig. (1).

Fig. (1)

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Study design.

The enamel surfaces of all teeth were polished with pumice for 10 seconds, rinsed with water and dried with compressed oil-free stream, and the different materials were applied as follow:

Control (Untreated Group)

The enamel surface was etched for 30 seconds with 37% phosphoric acid gel at 4mm gingival from the buccal cusp tip and centered along the long axis of the tooth, rinsed with water for 30 seconds, and air dried thoroughly. The standard edgewise brackets were bonded with chemically cured unfilled resin (Rely -a- Bond, No mix technique (Reliance Orthodontic products-Inc. Itasca, IL, USA) according to the manufacturer instruction.

Fluoride Varnish Group

After bracket bonding (the same steps as in the non-treated group), the teeth were air dried and fluoride varnish (Duraflor, 3M, Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) was applied in a thin layer with a bonding brush on the buccal surfaces surrounding the brackets and allowed to dry for 5 minutes. The patients were instructed to refrain from tooth brushing until the next morning after the application.

Unfilled Sealant Group

The whole buccal surface was etched for 30 seconds with 37% phosphoric acid gel, rinsed with water for 30 seconds and air dried, the brackets were bonded. An unfilled, light-cured sealant (Light Bond Sealant, Reliance, Orthodontic Products, Itasca, IL, USA) was applied in a thin, uniform layer on the etched enamel around the brackets with a brush and then light cured with a curing light (Cromalux E, 330 v - 50/60hz, Germany) for 20 seconds.

Filled Sealant Group

After etching and bracket bonding, (the same as in the unfilled group), a filled light-cured sealant (Pro-seal) was applied in a thin uniform layer on the etched enamel with brush around the brackets, and then light cured with the curing light for 20 seconds.

After 2 months, the brackets were debonded and the premolars were extracted. Debonding protocol included a non-traumatic technique to the enamel of the involved teeth using Debracketing Instrument (3M Uniteck, Monrovia, California, USA). This was performed to ensure that no possible enamel micro-fracture around the bracket bases may occur. All premolars were coded by an independent investigator. Codes were decoded after final AFM analysis and only at the time of statistical analysis. The roots and lingual parts of the crowns were cut off with a diamond disk on low-speed without contamination on the buccal surfaces, rinsed with distilled water and stored in non-ionized water at 4C°.

The samples were rinsed ultrasonically in non-ionized water for 10 minutes excess water was removed gently with absorbing paper. Each specimen was mounted on the microscope stub to be imaged at room temperature in an open air condition in its hydrated state.

Tapping mode measurements were performed with an Atomic force microscope (AFM) (Auto probe CP-researcher, Thermo-microscope, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) in the National Institute for Standards (NIS), Cairo, Egypt. Each sample was scanned at two different scan areas (50 µm and 10µm) at the cervical third of the crown. We used the cervical third of the crown (around the bracket base) which is the area less likely to be cleaned by patients. Images were recorded with slow scan rate and resolution of 512x512 pixels per image. The collected 3-D topographical data were analyzed using data analysis soft ware (SPM lab NT ver.5.01). The mean roughness height (RH) and the total surface area (SA) were measured for each scanned area, and numerical data were presented as means and standard deviations.

Statistical Analysis: Difference between groups was performed using one way analysis of variance and Post Hoc LSD test was used to analyze the data. Level of significance (α) was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

Surface Topography

Examination of AFM images and the numerical data revealed no significant difference between the samples within the same group with reference to location (maxillary and mandibular).

Non-Treated Group

AFM tapping mode images of 50x50 µm scanned area revealed that the enamel surface presented narrow grooves and flattened perikymata ridges with cracks and destructed areas in the surface (Fig. 2). The 3-D image showed high surface irregularity and focal deep areas corresponding to the cracks seen in the 2-D image (Fig. 3). The enamel surface presented an obvious defective crystal arrangement with wide inter-crystalline spaces (Fig. 4).

Fig. (2).

Fig. (2)

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Narrow grooves (black arrows) and flattened perikymata ridges (white arrows) with cracks and many destructed areas of non-treated enamel surface (50x50 µm).

Fig. (3).

Fig. (3)

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3-D image showing high surface irregularity with localized deep areas.

Fig. (4).

Fig. (4)

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Tightly packed crystals (black arrows) with focal destruction areas (white arrows) (10x10 µm).

Fluoride Varnish Group

The enamel surface presented wide perikymata grooves, non obvious perikymata ridges (Fig. 5) and highly rough enamel surface in the 3-D image (Fig. 6). The images of 10x10 µm scan area revealed tightly packed crystals with focal destruction areas (Fig. 7).

Fig. (5).

Fig. (5)

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Moderately wide perikymata groove (black arrow) and localized areas of destruction (white arrows) of varnish group (50x50 µm).

Fig. (6).

Fig. (6)

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3-D image showing highly rough enamel surface with wide perikymata grooves.

Fig. (7).

Fig. (7)

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Defective crystal arrangement of varnish treated enamel surface (10x10 µm).

Unfilled Sealant Group

The enamel surface showed moderately wide but shallow perikymata grooves and localized areas of destruction in the enamel surface (Fig. 8). The surface appeared with moderate roughness in the 3-D image (Fig. 9). Tightly packed enamel crystals with no evidence of focal holes was detected in 10x10 µm image (Fig. 10).

Fig. (8).

Fig. (8)

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AFM image of unfilled sealant group presented wide perikymata grooves and flattened perikymata ridges (50x50 µm).

Fig. (9).

Fig. (9)

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3-D image showing moderately rough enamel surface and wide perikymata groove.

Fig. (10).

Fig. (10)

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AFM image showing tightly packed enamel crystals. (10x10 µm).

Filled Sealant (Pro Seal) Group

The enamel surface showed perikymata grooves as wave-like parallel rings and obvious perikymata ridges. The enamel surface exhibited localized depressions (focal holes) with no evidence of rod ends (Fig. 11). The 3-D image revealed relatively smooth enamel surface (Fig. 12). Images of 10x10µm revealed the presence of conical depression (focal holes) surrounded by tightly arranged crystals (Fig. 13).

Fig. (11).

Fig. (11)

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AFM image of pro seal treated enamel showing perikymata ridge and groove with obvious focal holes (50x50 µm).

Fig. (12).

Fig. (12)

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3-D image of (Fig. 2) showing relatively smooth enamel surface between the focal holes.

Fig. (13).

Fig. (13)

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AFM image showing tightly arranged crystals around conical depressions (10x10 µm).

Statistical Analysis

The means and standard deviations of the roughness height (RH) and total surface area (SA) of the scanned areas were represented in Table 1 and Figs. (14, 15). One way ANOVA test revealed that RH and SA in the untreated group were significantly higher than other groups while the Pro Seal group showed the smallest values mean. There were significant differences (p<0.001) between three treatment groups and the untreated group concerning RH & SA (Tables 2-5).

Table 1.

Mean and SD. of Roughness Height and Total Surface Area in all Groups

Ra SA
control 569.7 ± 2.3 2886.6 ± 9.20
varnish 370.54 ± 2.19 2577.2 ± 5.3
u.sealant 330.28 ± 1.62 2561.2 ± 8.07
pro seal varnish 307.24 ± 2.58 2507.2± 7.08
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Fig. (14).

Fig. (14)

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Histogram showing the mean roughness height in the different groups.

Fig. (15).

Fig. (15)

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Histogram showing the mean surface area in the different groups.

Table 2.

1-Way ANOVA of Roughness Average (Ra) Variance Between and within the Tested Groups: Ra (µm)

Sum of Squares df Mean Square F P-value
Between Groups 215073.169 3 71691.056 14862.100 .000
Within Groups 77.180 16 4.824
Total 15150.349 19
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Table 5.

Multiple Comparisons Using Post Hoc LSD Test: Dependent Variable: SA (µm2)

(I) Group (J) Group Mean Difference (I-J) P-Value
Control u. sealant 309.4000* .000
Pro seal 379.4000* .000
Varnish 325.4000* .000
u. sealant Control -309.4000* .000
Pro seal 70.0000* .000
Varnish 16.0000* .004
Pro seal Control 379.4000* .000
u. sealant -70.0000* .000
Varnish -54.0000* .000
Varnish Control -325.4000* .000
u. sealant -16.0000* .004
Pro seal 54.0000* .000
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The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level.

DISCUSSION

Since orthodontic bonding technique involves initial enamel etching to provide micromechanical irregularities to enhance bonding, it is important to understand potential decalcification around orthodontic brackets with or without using prophylactic materials. AFM was used in the current study for characterization of surface structures of enamel because it is very sensitive to the initial phases of enamel dissolution even when the dissolution occurs at very low rate. The characterization of surface structures by tapping mode images of the present study revealed that Pro Seal treated enamel samples are typical to that of normal human enamel. The focal holes that were seen at the enamel surface would be due to loss of enamel caps as a result of physiological wear of enamel surface due to function as described by Barkovitz et al. [39].

Our experiment showed that Pro Seal group had the least values of RH & SA among all the groups. This may suggest that adding filler particles into the sealant may improve and increase the thin layer being retained throughout treatment, and offer adequate resistance against wear in vivo. The smooth enamel surface with intact surface details, (perikymata ridges and focal holes), denoted that Pro Seal could have provided protection to the enamel from acid penetration and preserve crystal organization, which is in agreement with that described by Farimo et al. [40], and Schaad et al. [41], in normal condition. Also the shape of the crystal was typical to that described by Kikham et al. [42]. They reported that enamel proteins appeared to adopt the form of spheres approximately 30 to 50µm. in diameter closely resemble previously reported nanosphere structure in vitro [43] and in vivo [44]. The obtained results are in agreement with Hu et al. [3]. They evaluated the third molar teeth quantitatively by cross sectional micro hardness testing and reported that, Pro Seal offers adequate resistance against wear during tooth brushing and essentially complete protection against decalcification in vitro. Also Chain et al. [45], found that Pro Seal exhibited statistically significant reduction in carious lesion initiation and progression in vitro.

The unfilled sealant group showed more protection to the enamel surface than varnish and control groups, as indicated from the mean values of RH and SA. The moderately wide and shallow perikymata grooves with moderate surface roughness were presented in 2D and 3-D images, denoted that there was a loss of the outer few micrometers of enamel surface due to softening of enamel, resulting in localized areas of destruction which was less than that observed in varnish and control groups. This result was different from that obtained by some previous studies [3, 46, 47] which demonstrated that the demineralization lesion formed in unfilled sealant group was not different from the lesions in the control groups, due to etched enamel underneath the sealant being exposed to the acid attack.

On the other hand, the results of the present study are in accordance with the findings of Ceen and Gwinnelt [48], Joseph et al. [49], Frazior et al. [50]. They reported that the protection afforded to the enamel did not just relay on retention of the superficial unfilled resin coverage. The enamel surface proved to be resistant to carious attack as long as the resin tags were present, which have been shown to extend from 80 to 170µm into the enamel surface, even after mechanical removal of the sealant.

The present study revealed that the varnish group presented a more destructed enamel surface. Widening and deepening of the perikymata grooves together with cracks that were detected in the enamel surface could be due to dissolution of the organic phase, which is more pronounced in control group [51]. This is in accordance with previous reports, that the relative mineral loss of demineralizing lesion in the fluoride varnish group was 30% less than the control. The varnish was suggested to slow down the progress of demineralization but did not completely inhibit the enamel lesions. A high bacterial challenge cannot be completely overcome by fluoride varnish [52].

Finally, high surface irregularity, defective crystal arrangement and wide inter-crystalline spaces were reported in the current study in the control group, reflecting dissolution of crystals and the organic phase [51] in addition to demineralization of enamel in orthodontic patients without enamel protection.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitation of the study the following conclusions can be drawn:

  • The use of varnish, unfilled sealant and Pro Seal in orthodontic patients with brackets resulted in a significantly lower mean roughness height and total surface area with no signs of surface demineralization or loss of surface details.

  • There was no significant difference between the three groups (Varnish, unfilled sealant and Pro Seal) groups regarding roughness height, however, roughness surface area was lower in Pro Seal than those of Varnish and unfilled sealant groups.

  • Pro Seal may be considered as an efficient preventive method in reducing enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets.

Table 3.

Multiple Comparisons Using Post Hoc LSD Test: Dependent Variable: Ra (µm)

(I) Group (J) Group Mean Difference (I-J) P-Value
Control u. sealant 239.4400* .000
Pro seal 262.4800* .000
Varnish 199.1800* .000
u. sealant Control -239.4400* .000
Pro seal 23.0400* .000
Varnish -40.2600* .000
Pro seal Control -262.4800* .000
u. sealant -239.4400* .000
Varnish -63.3000* .000
Varnish Control -199.1800* .000
u. sealant 40.2600* .000
Pro seal 63.3000* .000
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Table 4.

1-Wat Anovaanalysis of (SA) Variance Between and within the Tested Groups: Sa (µm2)

Sum of Squares df Mean Square F P-value
Between Groups 442037.350 3 147345.783 2586.148 .000
Within Groups 911.600 16 56.975
Total 442948.950 19
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

None declared.

CONFLICT OF INTREST

None declared.

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