Long-term monitoring of microleakage of different amalgams with different liners

Microleakage is a major factor contributing to the occurrence of secondary caries around amalgam restorations. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of amalgam type, liner type, and storage period on microleakage.

Two hundred seventy bovine incisors were divided into 18 groups (n = 15). Two high-copper amalgam alloys (admixed and spherical type) and 3 liner options (no liner, varnish, and adhesive) were used to restore Class V preparations. After placement of restorations, the teeth were stored for 3 different periods (1 day, 1 week, and 12 months) in saline solution, After storage, the specimens were immersed in 0.5% methylene blue for 24 hours, sectioned, and then mean depth of dye penetration was measured separately for the incisal and cervical areas with the use of a binocular microscope (x200). Scores were assigned to a millimeter scale (+/- 0.2 mm). The data were analyzed with a 3-way analysis of variance and the Tukey Honestly Significant Different test (alpha = .05).

The 3-way interaction was significant (P < .001 for the cervical and occlusal margins). After short-term storage (1 day and 1 week), the admixed alloy showed significantly lower leakage values than the spherical alloy only in cervical margins (1.45 and 1.56 for the admixed and 1.62 and 1.50 for the spherical alloy at the cervical [P = .034] and incisal margins [P = .702]), respectively. After 12 months, values decreased significantly for both amalgams, which were similar and lower than for the short-term storage period (short-term values of 1.62 and 1.39 for the admixed and 1.69 and 1.46 for the spherical alloy at the cervical and incisal margins, respectively; long-term values of 0.22 and 0.20 for the admixed and 0.33 and 0.36 for the spherical alloy at the cervical and incisal margins, respectively [P < .019]). When the adhesive was used, significantly superior sealing was observed for both amalgams. For the no liner and cavity varnish groups, the admixed alloy showed superior performance compared to the spherical alloy (with no liner, 1.11 and 0.98 for the admixed and 0.83 and 1.08 for the spherical alloy at the cervical and incisal margins, respectively; with varnish, 1.19 and 1.22 for the admixed and 1.63 and 1.34 for the spherical alloy, at the cervical and incisal margins, respectively [P < .037]).

In the short-term, the lowest degree of leakage was found when adhesive was used. After 1 year, no differences were detected, regardless of the amalgam type and liner used.