Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different repairing techniques of a fractured sealant on microleakage in vitro.
Methods: A nono-filled flowable composite (Filtek Z350) was placed on the occlusal surfaces of 112 intact extracted molars following cleoning by prophylaxis and acid etching. Sealant failure was produced on the entire sample. The teeth were then randomly allocated into 4 groups, each representing a different method of repair: group 1 (control)-prophylaxis brush followed by acid etching and 10 seconds of curing time; group 2-prophylaxis brush, acid etching, application of bonding agent, and 10 seconds of curing time; group 3-prophylaxis brush, acid etching, and 5 seconds of curing time; and group 4-prophylaxis brush, acid etching, and 20 seconds of curing time. Then, they were pointed with varnish and immersed in 1% methylene blue. The teeth were then sectioned, and a total of 648 surfaces were scored for microleakage.
Results: Statistical analysis did not demonstrate any one method of repair to be superior to the control method. There were no significant differences in microleakage between 10 and 20 seconds of curing time.
Conclusion: Prophylaxis brush, acid etching, and light-emitting diode light curing for 10 seconds seems to be the simplest and the most appropriate method of repair and is, therefore, recommended.