A split-mouth, double-blind trial evaluated the effects of a surface sealant on the clinical performance of Class I composite resin restorations. In 16 patients, 27 pairs of maxillary and mandibular molars or premolars with Class I carious lesions or unsatisfactory restorations were restored with composite resin. For each pair, 1 surface was sealed with surface sealant. Clinical evaluations of marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, anatomical form, and secondary caries were performed by 2 experienced operators using modified US Public Health Service criteria 1-2 weeks and 6 and 12 months after treatment. Data were analyzed with the McNemar test (P < 0.05). After 6 months, only 1 (4%) sealed restoration presented a Bravo rating for marginal integrity. After 12 months, the Bravo ratings for marginal integrity were 2 (7%) for sealed restorations and 1 (4%) for nonsealed restorations. Restorations received a score of Alfa for all other parameters at all time periods. There were no statistically significant differences within or between the sealed and nonsealed groups (P = 1.0). The use of a surface sealant did not improve the clinical performance of posterior composite resin Class I restorations.