Effects of composite fissure sealants on IR laser fluorescence measurements

The influence of composite fissure sealants on caries detection with IR laser fluorescence measurements should be assessed. Thirty-five extracted human teeth with 105 initial carious lesions were included. Six groups containing 15 lesions each were sealed with either a clear or a white version of three sealants. Group 7 was sealed with an experimental nanofilled material. Occlusal surfaces were irradiated by a diode laser (<1 mW, 655 nm). Fluorescence was measured before and after acid etching, directly and 1 week after application of the sealants. Values significantly increased after etching (p < 0.05). Compared to initial measurements, values decreased after sealing with the white materials (p < 0.05). There was no difference between values before and after sealing with the clear and the experimental materials (p > 0.05). All values were reproducible. The study indicates that it might be possible to monitor caries activity under clear or nanofilled fissure sealants by means of laser fluorescence.