Microleakage of adhesive restorative materials.

PURPOSE: To compare the marginal sealing ability of two conventional and one polyacid-modified resin-based composite, and two conventional and three resin-modified glass-ionomers in conventional cylindrical box cavities following a silver-staining microleakage evaluation method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 80 freshly extracted and caries-free human third molars, three standardized cylindrical butt-joint cavities were prepared: the first cavity in coronal enamel, the second at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the third completely in root cementum. A control group of 10 additional teeth was chosen. After the cavities were restored randomly using the eight restorative materials tested, the specimens were first stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 7 days and then thermocycled (500 cycles). Thereafter, the specimens were centrifuged for 10 min in plastic bottles containing 50 wt% silver nitrate aqueous solution. The degree of microleakage was recorded at four different depths along the restoration margins using an optical stereomicroscope equipped with a measuring gauge. RESULTS: None of the tested systems prevented microleakage completely, but the extent of leakage decreased towards the bottom of the restorations. The resin-modified glass-ionomers performed better than the conventional resin-based composites and conventional glass-ionomers. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Distinct leakage patterns were recorded among all materials investigated. Complete marginal sealing could still not be reached with the new adhesive restorative materials.