Sealants that stick: Embrace WetBond pit and fissure sealant
Our preventive role as dental hygienists is not always easy, especially when it comes to pediatrics. Achieving compliance in parents who continually justify their children’s poor oral hygiene and tooth decay by saying “they have my weak teeth” can test any dental hygienist’s patience. The truth is, we have the ability to prevent tooth decay, and preventive sealants are one of the most effective methods.
The average family with two kids involved in sports has a schedule that would make most socialites envious. An active lifestyle can get in the way of scheduling regular visits to the dentist. A sealant that can be placed in one quick visit is crucial for prevention and patient compliance.
As a new graduate, I joined a pediatric office that was extremely motivated to prevent decay as well as optimize the business production in the hygiene chair. Due to the goals of the office, I was asked to place sealants on most patients the day they were diagnosed with the need. A 30-minute preventive appointment often meant four sealants would be placed in addition to the prophy, oral hygiene education, and fluoride treatment. The child would lift a curious tongue at the last second, and I would be forced to start the process over. Continually running 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule during my first few weeks on the job, I felt defeated. Knowing the importance of placing a sealant with sound margins for long-term durability and protection, I knew I couldn’t let my tight schedule compromise the sealants. After investigating different sealant products, I found one that I loved, Embrace WetBond pit and fissure sealant.
Embrace WetBond is a unique resin-based, moisture-tolerant sealant material. (1) The sealant has multifunctional methacrylate monomers that are activated by moisture. (2) This technology enables clinicians to effectively place sealants even when there is slight moisture on the tooth, which is especially helpful when treating anxious, orally defensive patients. Embrace WetBond enables clinicians to place better retained sealants with smooth, undetectable margins, and increased fluoride release. (1)
A longitudinal study conducted by Howard E. Strassler, DMD, and Joseph P. O'Donnell, DMD, MS, reported on the durability of Embrace WetBond pit and fissure sealant after four to six years of initial placement. The study results demonstrated that Embrace WetBond had more than double the retention rate of the leading competitor. (2) Embrace sealant is an ionic resin that is rich with phosphates and forms a strong resin-hydroxyapatite bond that seals against micoleakage. (3)
Choosing products that aid in decreasing the risk of tooth decay is a vital part of every dental clinician’s role. Embrace Wetbond sealant allows clinicians to place high quality sealants with longevity, even with difficult patients on tight schedules.
1. Hoffman I. A moisture tolerant, resin based pit and fissure sealant. Dental Tribune. 2009(Dec):17A-18A.
2. Strassler HE, O’Donnell JP. A unique moisture-tolerant, resin based pit-and-fissure sealant: Clinical technique and research results. Inside Dent. 2008;4(9):2-3.
3. Products - Embrace WetBond Overview - Product Review. Pulpdent website. https://www.pulpdent.com/shop/category/embrace-wetbond-overview. Accessed October 30, 2017.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in RDH eVillage. Click here to subscribe.
