The influence of a simplified application technique for ceramic inlays on the margin quality

The adhesive luting technique for ceramic inlays requires a sequence of multiple steps that are cumber-some and time consuming. Furthermore, modifications of dentin bonding procedures may negatively influence the margin quality of ceramic inlays with cervical dentin finishing lines.

The objective of this study was to test the effect of a new, simplified procedure for dentin bonding on the margin quality of ceramic inlays.

Thirty-two MOD inlay cavities with cervical finishing lines in dentin were prepared into premolars. They were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): In the balanced design, one parameter was the inlay material (Empress/Cerec) and the other the polymerization of the dentin bonding agent, before insertion of the inlay (P+) and after insertion of the inlay (P-). All inlays were inserted with Variolink II in combination with an enamel and dentin conditioning universal bonding agent (Etch & Prime 3.0). Two parameters were used to determine the inlay quality: (1) the fit, measured by the difference of the insertion depth into the cavity between try-in and cementation, and (2) a quantitative margin analysis in the SEM at a magnification of 200x, performed for the cervical segment before and after thermocycling, using epoxy replicas.

In all four groups the inlays were > 5 microns deeper in the cavities than at the try-in session. This is explained by the substance loss from the etching. The measured difference for Cerec inlays inserted in cavities, where the bonding agent was not polymerized prior to insertion, was significantly larger. Margin analysis of the cervical segment revealed no statistical differences (P < 0.01) for both criteria tested. The median values for all groups were 100% for clinical acceptable margin and 0% for marginal opening.

By using the universal bonding agent, high margin qualities on dentin and enamel are obtained with ceramic inlays even with the simplified approach.