Marginal permeability of self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Adhesive Dentistry

Background:

• Microleakage is a significant clinical concern in adhesive dentistry.
• Evaluating the marginal integrity of various adhesive systems is crucial for long-term restoration success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the in vitro microleakage of self-etch and multi-step, total-etch adhesive systems.
• To assess marginal seal performance at both enamel and dentin margins.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-six human molars underwent Class V cavity preparation and restoration with eight different adhesive systems.
• Teeth were subjected to 1000 thermocycles, stained with methylene blue dye, and sectioned.
• Microleakage was quantified using a standardized scoring system and analyzed statistically.

Main Results:

• Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose demonstrated significantly less enamel margin microleakage compared to most other systems.
• Among self-etch systems, iBond showed less leakage than Nano-Bond at enamel margins.
• No significant differences in microleakage were observed among the adhesive groups at the dentin margins.
• Enamel margins consistently exhibited significantly less leakage than dentin margins across all tested systems.

Conclusions:

• The choice of adhesive system can influence marginal seal quality, particularly at enamel margins.
• Total-etch systems may offer superior sealing at enamel margins compared to some self-etch alternatives.
• Dentin margins remain a challenge for achieving a perfect seal, irrespective of the adhesive system used.