Surface roughness and maintenance of surface sealants for resin composites after toothbrushing.

Purposes: (1) To evaluate in vitro the surface roughness of a resin composite covered with three surface sealants and submitted to simulated toothbrushing for different periods; (2) Verify, through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the presence of surface sealants after simulated toothbrushing; and (3) To evaluate whether the type of dentifrice influences the maintenance of the surface sealant. The study hypothesis was that neither variable would influence the surface roughness of the composite and the maintenance of the surface sealant. Methods: 108 specimens were prepared with the resin Amelogen Plus, and divided into six groups (n = 18) according to the type of surface sealant [Fortify (F), BisCover LV (B) and Permaseal (P)] and toothpaste [Total 12 Clean Mint (CT) and Colgate Total 12 Professional Whitening (PW)]. The samples were subjected to brushing cycles, simulating periods of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. After each period, the surface roughness of the samples was measured. An additional group of 48 samples was prepared for SEM analysis. The results were analyzed by ANOVA with three fixed variables (sealants, time and toothpaste) and by Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). Results: BisCover had the lowest mean surface roughness (0.06 mu m) compared with the sealants Fortify (0.09 mu m) and Permaseal (0.08 mu m), which were not statistically different. Fortify, at 12 months of brushing, had the highest mean roughness (0.13 mu m). The mean roughness for the dentifrice CT was lower (0.07 mu m) when compared with PW (0.08 mu m) and was statistically different. Roughness increased up to 12 months of simulated brushing (0.04 mu m, 0.08 mu m and 0.11 mu m), decreasing from the 18th month (0.08 mu m) to the 24th month of brushing (0.07 mu m). None of the sealants was observed (with SEM) to be completely removed from the resin at 24 months of brushing.