1. UltraSeal XT plus 4.5 Ultradent 2a. Clinpro Sealant 4.0 3M ESPE 2b. Guardian Seal 4.0 Kerr 2c. Teethmate F-1 4.0 Kuraray 3a. Admira Seal 3.8 Voco 3b. Cosmeseal 3.8 Cosmedent 3c. Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant 3.8 4a. Delton FS+ 3.7 Dentsply Professional 4b. EcuSeal 3.7 DMG/Zenith 4c. Seal-Rite/Seal-Rite Low Viscosity 3.7 5. Delton Plus 3.5 Dentsply Professional 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 817
Sealants UltraSeal XT plus Ultradent Clinpro Sealant 3M ESPE Guardian Seal Kerr Teethmate F-1 Kuraray Admira Seal Voco Cosmeseal Clear Cosmedent Cosmeseal Filled Cosmedent Cost/ml Kit $36.63 $18.43 $24.79 $25.65 $21.60 $14.98 $19.63 $23.89 Refills $10.41 $9.92 $15.75 N/A $23.20 N/A $21.68 $26.25 Filler % by Weight 58 6 30 N/A 54 N/A 36 Delivery Syringes with Inspiral Brush Tips, Unidose Syringes 4: Clear, Universal (A2), White, A1 Syringes, Squeeze Bottles 1: Pink to Yellow Syringes Squeezable Pen Syringes Syringes Syringes 1: White 2: and Natural 1: Off-White Flow 1 0.5 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.0-2.0 2.0 1.0 3.5 Best cure time (sec) 20 40 20 40 10 Natural: 10 20 : 20 40 1: Clear 1: Almost colorless 20 40 20 40 20 40 Sealants Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant Delton FS+ Dentsply Professional Seal-Rite/Seal-Rite Low Viscosity EcuSeal DMG/Zenith Seal-Rite Seal-Rite LV Delton Plus Dentsply Professional Cost/ml Kit $13.44 $35.69 $31.12 $9.48 $9.48 $37.39 Refills $10.33 $19.97 $21.59 $8.33 $8.33 $26.96 Filler % by Weight 36.6 55 33 34.4 8 38 Delivery Syringes Syringes Tips Syringes Syringes Tips 2: Natural and Off-White 1: 1: Off-White 2: Clear and Off-White 2: Clear and Off-White Flow 1 4.0 2.5 2.5 0.0 3.5 1 Best cure time (sec) Natural: 10-20 Off-White: 20-40 1: 40 40 20-40 20-40 20-40 1 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 FLOW TESTS UltraSeal XT plus (OW) (0.5) UltraSeal XT plus (A1) (0.5) UltraSeal XT plus (A2) (0.5) UltraSeal XT plus (Clear) (1.0) Clinpro Sealant (2.0) Guardian Seal (1.0) Teethmate F-1 Natural (0.0) Teethmate F-1 (2.0) Admira Seal (2.0) Cosmeseal Clear (1.0) Cosmeseal Filled (3.5) Embrace WetBond (4.0) Delton FS+ (2.5) EcuSeal (2.5) Seal-Rite (Reg) (0.0) Seal-Rite Clear (Reg) (0.0) Seal-Rite (LV) (3.5) Delton Plus (3.0) 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 While the application of pit and fissure sealants is into its fourth decade of use, there are some practitioners that consider it out-of-date and potentially dangerous to teeth. This latter claim is due to the discovery that secondary caries seems to be discovered with increasing frequency when suspicious areas under sealants are exposed through cavity preparation. However, advocates of sealants maintain that, from a public health standpoint, they are still the best modality to noninvasively protect pits and fissures from carious attack. In addition, it is speculated that the reason many sealants seem to fail is due to their poorly controlled placement. Since sealants are usually applied by an auxiliary working alone, moisture control, essential to proper placement, has probably not been exemplary in many instances. 818 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20
Criteria for Selection Flow For a sealant to be effective, it must have adequate flow, but not be excessively liquid to restrict proper placement. Sealants are supposed to be placed in the pits and fissures they are not intended to cover the entire occlusal surface. Conversely, if a sealant is too viscous, it will not flow adequately into the small recesses of the pits and fissures. Dispensing Direct placement with a syringe or other instrument is most efficient, assuming you can control the volume of material being dispensed. If you dispense an excessive amount, you ll waste time removing the excess. The design of the dispensing instrument can be quite unique and whether you will like it or not is a personal preference choice. However, some of these applicators are difficult to clean, which can affect their long-term use. Shade This is a matter of preference some dentists want opaque sealants to allow easy identification during periodic examinations while others (dentists and patients) prefer invisible sealants. Fluoride Release All things being equal, it certainly seems that fluoride release adds another aspect of prevention to sealants. Therefore, in general, we prefer sealants that release fluoride, although the amount of fluoride being released and its ability to reduce caries susceptibility is questionable. Best Curing Time We tested the hardness of these materials after curing for various times with the following lights using the large tips needed to polymerize the entire occlusal surface at one time. From these hardness measurements, you can see the differences between the various curing times. These times are listed in the commentary for each product. Curing lights and tips Optilux 501/13mm tip LEDemetron II/11mm Turbo 4.5 1 DOCTOR $43.99/1.2ml ($36.63/ml) Syringes/4 (1.2ml ea) $49.99/4.8ml ($10.41/ml) Unit Dose/50 $99.99/10ml ($10.00/ml) UltraSeal XT plus Ultradent www.ultradent.com UltraSeal Action DVD or video $9.99 UltraSeal Comic Book $2.99/12 ($0.25 ea) + Best viscosity + Inspiral tips dispense and push sealant into pits and fissures Do you really need the PrimaDry? Tips clog occasionally 0.5 1.0 0.5 1.0 Quite runny. Flows well into pits and fissures. However, due to application with the Inspiral tips, it doesn t seem runny intraorally, since you can control the amount dispensed very precisely. Optilux 501 16.1 20.1 22.1 23.7 LEDemetron II 16.2 19.5 25.2 28.1 4 Clear, Universal (A2), White, and A1. Filled 58% by weight, releases fluoride, radiopaque. PrimaDry (in kit) is 99% ethyl alcohol. Clear Universal (A2) White A1 UltraSeal cartoon action figure (looks like a purple Rambo with a seal head) is featured in a comic book showing how Ultraseal kills and seals out the bugs in your teeth. There is also a DVD or video for the reception room and brochures. 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 819
Clinpro (4.0) Sealant 2a 3M ESPE S Bottle Intro Kit $221.10/12ml ($18.43/ml) Syringe Intro Kit $59.50/2.4ml ($24.79/ml) + Pink to yellow color change + Choice of dispensing systems Poor illustrations inside lid Dispensing needs improvement : Bottles $59.50/6ml ($9.92/ml) Syringes $18.90/1.2ml ($15.75/ml) Even though the syringe needle tip was fine gauge, it was somewhat difficult to control the flow, which led to dispensing too much sealant. When the needle tip was changed for another brand, control was better. Syringe Bottle Optilux 501 11.2 13.6 15.1 19.2 LEDemetron II 11.3 14.9 15.8 16.4 Optilux 501 7.8 12.7 14.7 15.8 LEDemetron II 10.1 11.4 12.8 15.2 Shade 1 Pink but changes to opaque light yellow when cured. Definitely helped to ensure all pits and fissures were sealed. The color change upon curing was also appreciated. BIS-GMA, TEGDMA, colorants, initiators, fluoridereleasing. Filled 6% by weight with amorphous silica. 2.0 2.0 Before Light Curing After Light Curing Guardian (4.0) Seal 2b Kerr PRICE $84.65/3.3ml ($25.65/ml) + Cartoon character on box + Cures in 10s N/A No clear version Need practice to dispense correct amount 1.0 1.0 Even though this material s flow is somewhat less than others in this category, the flowthrough applicator tips did not allow as much control as other delivery systems. On the other hand, if you master the feel of this system, the applicator tips works well with burnishing the material into the pits and fissures. Optilux 501 16.0 16.3 17.1 17.9 LEDemetron II 16.1 15.7 17.3 18.9 Shade 1 White Filled 30% by weight, 14.4% by volume, fluoridereleasing. White 820 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20
(4.0) 2c NEW Teethmate F-1 Kuraray www.kuraraydental.com $108.00/5ml ($21.60/ml) $58.00/2.5ml ($23.20/ml) 3 years + Contains MDP adhesion promoter + 20s curing No metal tips only plastic 14 pages of directions for a sealant? TEGDMA, hydrophobic dimethacrylate, HEMA, MDP, Methacryloyl fluoride-methyl methacrylate copolymer, dl-camphorquinone. Natural 0.0 2.0 0 2.0 Natural Optilux 501 21.1 24.1 25.8 26.0 LEDemetron II DNS 27.3 28.9 29.9 Optilux 501 21.1 21.4 23.5 24.0 LEDemetron II DNS 21.3 23.5 26.4 2 Natural (clear) and (light yellow). Natural 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 821
(3.8) 3a Admira Seal PRICE $29.95/2ml ($14.98/ml) Voco www.voco.com/usa N/A + Best fi ne needle tips + Ormocer chemistry may be better biologically Labels peeled off syringes when box was opened No choice of shades Filled 54% by weight, 42% by volume with 0.7µ filler particles and silicon dioxide, based on Ormocer technology. 2.0 2.0 Optilux 501 17.7 24.7 26.9 27.2 LEDemetron II 18.2 23.5 26.4 28.6 Shade 1 Off-white opaque White 822 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20
(3.8) 3b NEW Cosmeseal Cosmedent www.cosmedent.com S Clear $54.95/3g/2.8ml ($19.63/ml) Filled $54.95/3g/2.3ml ($23.89/ml) Clear $19.95/1g/0.92ml ($21.68/ml) Filled $19.95/1g/0.76ml ($26.25/ml) 4 years for Clear 3 years for Filled + Two shades + Microfi ll polishability Does a sealant need to be polishable? Thicker viscosity requires more attention to application Filled is filled 36% by weight, 24% by volume with microfill filler. Clear is unfilled. Clear 1.0 Filled 3.5 Clear 1.0 3.5 Optilux 501 15.9 21.3 22.6 24.2 LEDemetron II 14.7 21.2 22.1 24.4 Filled Optilux 501 23.0 24.4 25.5 29.3 LEDemetron II 12.2 18.9 22.9 24.0 2 Clear and Filled (almost colorless). Clear Filled 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 823
(3.8) 3c NEW Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant www.pulpdent.com $64.50/4.8ml ($13.44/ml) $32.50/3ml ($10.33/ml) + Bonds under adverse conditions + No Bisphenol A Achieving the optimal wetness is not easy Too runny and sticky as a restorative material Filled 36.6% by weight. Contains di-, tri- and multi-functional acrylate monomers in what is being called Resin Acid-Integrating Network (R.A.I.N.), which is presumably very hydrophilic. The material is supposed to be activated in the presence of moisture and is recommended for use on surfaces that are slightly moist. Does not contain Bisphenol A. Natural 4.0 Off-White 4.0 4.0 Adequate flow for a sealant, but too runny and sticky as a restorative, for which it is also being recommended. Natural Optilux 501 7.8 24.1 21.5 25.0 LEDemetron II 12.5 19.2 21.7 23.1 Off-White Optilux 501 10.5 20.1 23.0 24.8 LEDemetron II 15.0 18.9 23.4 25.4 2 Natural (A1-B1) and Off-White (off-white). Natural Off-White 824 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20
(3.7) 4a Delton FS+ Dentsply Professional Complete Kit $85.65/2.4ml ($35.69/ml) 1.5 years + High fi ller load + Not too runny, not too thick Low hardness Only available in opaque REFILL $95.85/4.8ml ($19.97/ml) Glass-filled 55% by weight, low viscosity monomers, triethyleneglycol dimetharcylate, BisGMA, barium aluminofluoro-borosilicate glass, titanium dioxide, sodium fluoride, polymerization initiator. 2.5 1 2.5 Optilux 501 6.5 16.4 16.8 20.4 LEDemetron II 8.1 12.5 15.3 18.5 (3.7) 4b EcuSeal DMG/Zenith www.zenithdental.com Intro Kit $159.70/5ml ($31.94/ml) 3 years $110.60/5ml ($22.12/ml) + Nifty dispenser + Even etch is unidose Dispenser not as natural in hand as syringe Keeping dispenser clean is a hassle Filled 33% by weight with aluminofluorosilicate glass, fluoride-releasing. 2.5 Plenty of flow to get into pits and fissures. However, we found almost no voids. 2.5 Optilux 501 13.9 21.4 24.7 26.1 LEDemetron II 16.6 19.4 24.0 29.2 Shade 1 Off-white opaque. If you like a bright, white sealant that is easily distinguishable from tooth structure, this is not it. If you want the sealant to disappear, this is not it. If you want something in between, this is it. White 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 825
(3.7) 4c ENCORE Seal-Rite/ Seal-Rite Low Viscosity www.pulpdent.com $45.50/4.8ml ($9.48/ml) $25.00/3ml ($8.33/ml) + Choice of two viscosities and two shades + Least expensive Syringe tips are too large for precise placement Regular is runnier than LV Regular viscosity is filled 34.4% by weight. Low viscosity is filled 8% by weight. Contains Bis- GMA. Regular 0.0 Low viscosity 3.5 0 3.5 Regular Optilux 501 23.2 24.3 25.9 27.8 LEDemetron II 12.4 22.0 23.8 27.5 Low Viscosity Optilux 501 14.0 18.4 24.4 26.7 LEDemetron II 20.0 22.0 26.0 27.5 2 Clear and Off-White (ivory). Clear Off-White (3.5) 5 Delton Plus Dentsply Professional Introductory Kit Direct Delivery System $149.55/4ml ($37.39/ml) + Not too runny, not too thick + Unidose Expensive No clear option $107.85/4ml ($26.96/ml) Glass-filled 38%, low viscosity monomers, triethyleneglycol dimetharcylate, BisGMA, barium aluminofluoroborosilicate glass, titanium dioxide, sodium fluoride, polymerization initiator. 3.0 Shade 1 0% 100% TRANSLUCENT OPAQUE Optilux 501 8.4 13.1 15.5 18.3 LEDemetron II 8.3 13.3 18.4 19.1 826 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20
REALITY SEALANTS UltraSeal XT plus STRENGTHS Excellent delivery system, good viscosity, fluoride-release, four shades. If you want to see the sealant after application, use the White. A1 and A2 are also somewhat visible, while Clear is totally invisible. Also available in unidose syringes to make the system even more complete. And it is the only product in this category with an effective marketing program oriented toward children and their parents. WEAKNESSES BOTTOM LINE Simply the best. Clinpro Sealant STRENGTHS Offers unique color change technology, being pink when it is applied and then turning to an opaque light yellow (very visible on the tooth) after it is cured. This property gives you good visible feedback during application and after curing. The material also has good flow properties. WEAKNESSES Supplied needle tips compromised the dispensing control, causing too much material to be placed. The directions, especially the illustrations inside the lid, need improvement. BOTTOM LINE The I m sure it s cured sealant. Guardian Seal STRENGTHS Fairly runny, filled material that includes unique, flow-through applicator tips, which are effective in burnishing the material into the pits and fissures once you get the hang of it. Will cure in 10 seconds, fastest in this category. WEAKNESSES Although it is supposed to be opaque enough to see, it is not very visible after placement. From a marketing perspective, if we could only get a life-sized version of the cartoon character gracing the front of the box, we d really have something. BOTTOM LINE No-nonsense approach to sealants and ultra-fast too. Teethmate F-1 STRENGTHS Squeezable, pen-like dispenser is unique and, with its smooth surface, easy to clean. Adhesion promoter MDP, which is a key ingredient in adhesives and cements, promises better adhesion. Two shades give option between translucent and opaque. WEAKNESSES No metal tips only plastic. BOTTOM LINE Strong performer, but it needs better dispensing tips. Admira Seal STRENGTHS Only product in this category that is based on Ormocer chemistry, which is supposed to be more biocompatible due to its advanced cross-linking and minimal release of residual monomers. The material itself flows well and the very fine needle tips, appreciated by all evaluators, allow more precise placement, minimizing the tendency to use it as an occlusal rather than pit and fissure sealant. WEAKNESSES There is a tendency to the material to keep extruding after use you need to retract the plunger slightly to counteract this effect. One evaluator also mentioned that it was too sensitive to the dental light. BOTTOM LINE If you want a pretty good sealant and one that is potentially more biocompatible, this is it. Cosmeseal STRENGTHS Two versions: clear and filled, with the latter being a microfill for polishability and wear resistance. All evaluators felt the handling and viscosity of clear was about right. WEAKNESSES Who polishes sealants? Directions tell you to prep tooth with diamond, which effectively mandates dentist involvement as opposed to having it as a total hygiene procedure. One evaluator thought the filled version was too thick and sticky. All evaluators felt the filled version did not have any clinical advantages over the clear version. BOTTOM LINE Protection and the esthetics of a microfill rolled into one product, but you may want to stick with the simple, unfilled version. 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20 The Ratings 827
REALITY Embrace WetBond Pit & Fissure Sealant STRENGTHS Proprietary chemistry facilitates adhesion even to saliva-contaminated tooth surfaces, which is not uncommon when treating young children. Two shades give option between translucent and opaque. All evaluators stated its viscosity and handling as a sealant was about right and the opaque shade provided good contrast to tooth structure. WEAKNESSES Long-term stability of bonding to wet and/or contaminated enamel still needs to be proven. Two evaluators felt it was too runny and/or too sticky to be used as a restorative. Most evaluators thought the natural shade did not blend into tooth structure as well as anticipated. BOTTOM LINE A viable option when you treat kids and getting their teeth dry is an impossible task. Delton FS+ STRENGTHS Medium flow and an opaque version that is clearly visible. WEAKNESSES No translucent or clear option. BOTTOM LINE The Delton name gives it instant credibility. EcuSeal STRENGTHS Unit dose tips and nifty dispenser allow quick application in a reasonably precise manner. The single shade is reasonably opaque and is visible after placement. WEAKNESSES Keeping the dispenser clean is a nuisance. No translucent or clear option. BOTTOM LINE Convenient, well-designed sealant system. Seal-Rite/ Seal-Rite LV STRENGTHS Two viscosities. Two shades give option between translucent and opaque. Least expensive. WEAKNESSES Syringe tips are very large and do not allow precise dispensing, which means applying an excess amount that will need to be removed before curing a high probability. Low viscosity version was thicker than regular one. BOTTOM LINE Viscosity and shade options combined with a bargain price. Delton Plus STRENGTHS Medium flow, the DDS delivery system, and one opaque shade that definitely can be seen after application. WEAKNESSES No translucent or clear option. Very expensive. BOTTOM LINE The original unidose delivery system combined with its heritage continues to give this material wide appeal. OTHER PRODUCTS IN THIS CATEGORY Aegis Bosworth Fissurit FX Voco Helioseal F Ivoclar Vivadent Baritone L3 C-Dent Fluro-Shield Dentsply/Caulk Prisma-Shield Dentsply/Caulk Conseal f SDI Helioseal Clear Ivoclar Vivadent Sealant Bisco Fissurit Voco Helioseal Clear Chroma Ivoclar Vivadent 828 The Ratings 2006 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 20