Repair of non-carious amalgam margin defects

This study investigated the microleakage associated with the repair of non-carious amalgam defects using flowable resin composite. Occlusal amalgam preparations were accomplished on 36 non-carious mandibular molars. A standardized 40-micron marginal defect was made by condensing amalgam against a mylar matrix strip. Specimens then underwent a corrosion protocol designed to simulate intraoral corrosion seen with amalgam restorations. The resultant specimens were divided into three treatment groups: 1) No treatment (control); 2) Air abrasion of the amalgam defect surface, acid etching of both amalgam and enamel surfaces, then placement of a flowable composite and 3) Air abrasion of the amalgam defect, application of a fifth-generation dentin bonding agent and placement of the flowable composite. Specimens were thermocycled, sealed with glass ionomer and fingernail polish to within 1 mm of repaired margins, then immersed in basic fuchsin for 24 hours. Specimens were sectioned and microleakage assessed. Results indicated that a flowable resin composite significantly reduced marginal microleakage compared to the control (p < 0.05). There was no difference in microleakage between flowable resin composite repairs done with or without the use of a dentin-bonding agent.