Effect of a resin-based desensitizing agent and a self-etching dentin adhesive on marginal leakage of amalgam...

The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal leakage of Class II amalgam restorations whose preparations were lined with a resin-based desensitizing agent, a self-etching adhesive system, and copal varnish.

Fifty-six freshly extracted human premolar teeth were divided into four groups. A Class II preparation was prepared with only a proximal box on the mesial and distal surfaces of each tooth. The cavities in one group were lined with a desensitizing agent (VivaSens) and a second group with an adhesive (Clearfil S3 Bond). A third group was lined with copal varnish (Copalite) and a fourth group was used as the control without any cavity liner. Spherical high copper amalgam was hand-condensed into each preparation, specimens were thermocycled, stained, and sectioned. Microleakage was graded using a stereomicroscope. Microleakage scores were calculated and analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis and the Mann-Whitney tests (alpha=0.05).

Less microleakage was indicated with the VivaSens liner when compared with the other groups (P<0.05). Clearfil S3 Bond showed less microleakage than the control group (P<0.05), but the leakage with copal varnish and Clearfil S3 Bond was similar (P>0.05).

VivaSens reduced the microleakage of Class II high copper amalgam restorations significantly more than the Clearfil S3 Bond and copal varnish.