Sealants Study Guide Exam Questions
and Answers
Approximately, how much decay is found in the pits and fissures?* - Answer- 50-
85%
What are the 3 types of pit and fissure openings?* - Answer- U type, V type, and I
type.
Which pit and fissure opening is bottle neck?* - Answer- I type
Which pit and fissure opening is narrower?* - Answer- V type
Which pit and fissure opening is wider?* - Answer- U type
Pit and fissure sealants have been found to be _____% effective in prevention of
occlusal caries when ?* - Answer- 99 / the material is completely retained.
What are sealant retention rates after 1 year?* - Answer- 90-100%
What are sealant retention rates after 3-7 years?* - Answer- 65-85%
Where are sealant retention rates highest? - Answer- Newly erupted teeth, first
molars, and mandibular teeth.
Is there a difference in light cured and self cured material? - Answer- No
What is the majority of sealant failures due too?* - Answer- Operators technique
What age group is targeted for sealants most? - Answer- Children ages 6-13
A sealant is indicated if a deep _________, ____________, or __________ is
present. - Answer- Fissure, fossa, pit
A sealant is contraindicated if a patients behavior does not permit _______ ? -
Answer- use of an adequate dry field.
A sealant is contraindicated if there is an _________ ? - Answer- open occlusal
carious lesion.
A sealant is contraindicated if _________ exist on other surfaces of the same tooth. -
Answer- Caries ( particularly proximal lesions )
A sealant is contraindicated if a large _________ is already present. - Answer-
restoration
, A sealant is probably indicated if the fossa selected for a sealant placement is
________ _________ from another fossa with a restoration. - Answer- Well isolated
A sealant is probably indicated if the area selected is confined to a _______
________ __________. - Answer- Fully erupted fossa
A sealant is probably indicated if the opposite tooth in the mouth is ________ or
__________. - Answer- Carious / Restored
A sealant is probably indicated if there is an ________ ________ in the pit and
fissure. - Answer- Incipient lesion ( early developing caries )
When can a sealant be applied?* - Answer- After the patient has had an examination
and been diagnosed by the dentist.
Sealants must form a strong _________ _________ with the enamel surface in order
for the resin to be effectively retained. - Answer- Mechanical bond
What is applied immediately prior to applying the sealant? - Answer- Phosphoric
Acid Etchant
How long should the phosphoric acid etchant be left on the tooth? - Answer- 1
minute
How does the etchant increase the enamel surface area?* - Answer- Produces
selective dissolution of the enamel, opening pores into which the resin can flow.
How does the tooth surface appear after being etched?* - Answer- Dull/frosted
When a sealant is placed over an acid conditioned tooth what is created?* - Answer-
Resin tags 15-25 microns in length
What do the resin tags increase which allows them to be responsible for the clinical
retention and success of the sealant?* - Answer- mechanical retention
What is the most critical period in the sealant application? - Answer- Acid etch
process
What happens if saliva is allowed to contact the etched tooth prior to resin
placement?* - Answer- Proteins from the saliva will adhere to the etched enamel.
When contact with saliva occurs, what happens immediately and interferes with
penetration of the sealant as well as significantly reducing bond strength between
sealant and enamel?* - Answer- Remineralization of enamel
What should be done if a conditioned tooth becomes contaminated with saliva prior
to resin placement?* - Answer- Re etch for 20-30 seconds
What should the acid etchant not come in contact with?* - Answer- Soft tissues, skin,
or eyes
and Answers
Approximately, how much decay is found in the pits and fissures?* - Answer- 50-
85%
What are the 3 types of pit and fissure openings?* - Answer- U type, V type, and I
type.
Which pit and fissure opening is bottle neck?* - Answer- I type
Which pit and fissure opening is narrower?* - Answer- V type
Which pit and fissure opening is wider?* - Answer- U type
Pit and fissure sealants have been found to be _____% effective in prevention of
occlusal caries when ?* - Answer- 99 / the material is completely retained.
What are sealant retention rates after 1 year?* - Answer- 90-100%
What are sealant retention rates after 3-7 years?* - Answer- 65-85%
Where are sealant retention rates highest? - Answer- Newly erupted teeth, first
molars, and mandibular teeth.
Is there a difference in light cured and self cured material? - Answer- No
What is the majority of sealant failures due too?* - Answer- Operators technique
What age group is targeted for sealants most? - Answer- Children ages 6-13
A sealant is indicated if a deep _________, ____________, or __________ is
present. - Answer- Fissure, fossa, pit
A sealant is contraindicated if a patients behavior does not permit _______ ? -
Answer- use of an adequate dry field.
A sealant is contraindicated if there is an _________ ? - Answer- open occlusal
carious lesion.
A sealant is contraindicated if _________ exist on other surfaces of the same tooth. -
Answer- Caries ( particularly proximal lesions )
A sealant is contraindicated if a large _________ is already present. - Answer-
restoration
, A sealant is probably indicated if the fossa selected for a sealant placement is
________ _________ from another fossa with a restoration. - Answer- Well isolated
A sealant is probably indicated if the area selected is confined to a _______
________ __________. - Answer- Fully erupted fossa
A sealant is probably indicated if the opposite tooth in the mouth is ________ or
__________. - Answer- Carious / Restored
A sealant is probably indicated if there is an ________ ________ in the pit and
fissure. - Answer- Incipient lesion ( early developing caries )
When can a sealant be applied?* - Answer- After the patient has had an examination
and been diagnosed by the dentist.
Sealants must form a strong _________ _________ with the enamel surface in order
for the resin to be effectively retained. - Answer- Mechanical bond
What is applied immediately prior to applying the sealant? - Answer- Phosphoric
Acid Etchant
How long should the phosphoric acid etchant be left on the tooth? - Answer- 1
minute
How does the etchant increase the enamel surface area?* - Answer- Produces
selective dissolution of the enamel, opening pores into which the resin can flow.
How does the tooth surface appear after being etched?* - Answer- Dull/frosted
When a sealant is placed over an acid conditioned tooth what is created?* - Answer-
Resin tags 15-25 microns in length
What do the resin tags increase which allows them to be responsible for the clinical
retention and success of the sealant?* - Answer- mechanical retention
What is the most critical period in the sealant application? - Answer- Acid etch
process
What happens if saliva is allowed to contact the etched tooth prior to resin
placement?* - Answer- Proteins from the saliva will adhere to the etched enamel.
When contact with saliva occurs, what happens immediately and interferes with
penetration of the sealant as well as significantly reducing bond strength between
sealant and enamel?* - Answer- Remineralization of enamel
What should be done if a conditioned tooth becomes contaminated with saliva prior
to resin placement?* - Answer- Re etch for 20-30 seconds
What should the acid etchant not come in contact with?* - Answer- Soft tissues, skin,
or eyes
