Abstract Objectives Achieving a persistent seal between enamel and fissure sealants is crucial for the long-term prevention of dental cavities. This study examined how pre-treatment of the enamel surface with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and sodium fluoride (NaF) affects shear bond strength (SBS), microleakage, and wettability of a pit and fissure sealant, both before and after acid etching. Materials and methods Eighty-four human premolars were randomly assigned to seven groups (n = 6). Group 1 was the control group, while Groups 2, 4, and 6 received 0.05% (NaF), 0.05%, and 0.1% TiO2 NPs after acid etching, and Groups 3, 5, and 7 received the same treatments before etching. Microleakage, SBS, and failure modes were analyzed. Wettability was measured using the sessile drop method. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis. Results Microleakage scores differed significantly among groups (P 0.05), with Group 3 showing the highest and Group 6 the lowest leakage. No significant differences were observed in SBS or failure modes (P 0.05). Wettability results showed significant differences between certain TiO2 NPs groups (P 0.05), with Group 4 demonstrating the lowest contact angle. No significant correlations were found among wettability, microleakage, and SBS. Conclusion Enamel pre-treatment with TiO2 NPs, particularly following acid etching, may enhance the performance of pit and fissure sealants by reducing microleakage without compromising bond strength. These findings highlight the potential of TiO2 NPs to support caries prevention strategies and promote minimally invasive approaches in clinical dental practice.
Ahmad et al. (2025) studied this question.