The adaptation and cavity sealing ability of compomer restorative materials

To examine the sealing ability of compomers, used in combination with dentin bonding agents, compared to other classes of tooth-colored materials.

Thirty wedge-shaped cervical cavities were cut in extracted teeth, with the gingival cavosurface margin involving dentin. Five cavities each were restored with one of the following: the compomers Dyract AP/Prime & Bond NT, F2000 Compomer/Adhesive or Hytac Aplitip/Prompt L-Pop; a conventional glass-ionomer, Ketac Fil Aplicap; a resin-modified glass-ionomer, Fuji II LC Improved; or a resin-based composite, Z100 MP/Scotchbond 1. All teeth were restored, stored moist for 24 hours, then varnished (except the restorations) before thermocycling in rhodamine B dye solution for 1000 cycles (between baths of 6 degrees C and 60 degrees C). The teeth were sectioned longitudinally through the restorations before examination with a confocal microscope. A scale of 0 to 3 was used to score the dye leakage along the enamel margin as well as the gingival margin.

The results showed that at the enamel margin, all materials gave a median score of 0 except Z100 MP (median score 3). Leakage was noted at the gingival margin of all materials (median score of 3 except Dyract AP with a median score of 2).