Conclusion It seems that the use of flowable composite as a fissure sealing material can slightly increase the retention rate of sealants compared with conventional resin-based sealants
Objectives The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to evaluate fissure sealant retention in clinical studies in which investigators used flowable composites as pit and fissure sealants compared with conventional resin-based pit and fissure sealants .
Retention of sealants over carious and sound tooth surfaces.
Bacteriologic and clinical studies suggest that sealants can be used therapeutically on incipient caries of the enamel . The present study was design ed to explore this approach further by determining whether there is a difference in retention rates on sound or carious tooth surfaces sealed for the first time as well as resealed surfaces . A total of 1766 teeth were sealed for subjects 12 - 14 yr of age of which 120 were judged to be carious . Mouths were divided sagittally on a r and om basis and an ultraviolet light activated resin with a filler or an autopolymerizing resin without a filler was placed on contralateral surfaces of all molar and premolar teeth . The effects of sealant type , caries status , arch and tooth type on retention over a 2-yr period were tested using Mantel-Haenszel statistics . At the end of 1 yr , 88 % of the teeth sealed with the autopolymerizing resin were judged to be completely intact compared to 82 % of the teeth filled with the ultraviolet light resin . At the end of the second year the retention rates were 84 % and 75 % respectively . The retention rates for carious and sound teeth at the end of both years were almost identical . Overall , premolars had a 15 % more favorable retention rate than molars . There were minimal differences between arches although maxillary premolars had approximately a 5 % higher retention rate than m and ibular premolars . The reverse was true for molar teeth . Retention of sealants  at the end of the second year ( resealed after 1 yr ) was 4 % less than comparable teeth sealed initially
Conclusion It seems that the use of flowable composite as a fissure sealing material can slightly increase the retention rate of sealants compared with conventional resin-based sealants
Objectives The aim of this systematic review and meta- analysis was to evaluate fissure sealant retention in clinical studies in which investigators used flowable composites as pit and fissure sealants compared with conventional resin-based pit and fissure sealants .