Effects of aging methods on microleakage of an adhesive system used as a sealant on contaminated surfaces

This study evaluated the effects of aging methods on the microleakage of an adhesive system used for sealing pit and fissure surfaces. After acid etching, the occlusal surfaces of 60 permanent teeth were contaminated with 1mL of human plasma and then sealed with OptiBond dual cure, activated in the ramp mode (Optilux 501). The sample was then divided into eight experimental and a control groups. Aging was performed for 20 days in 5, 37, 55 and 5-55ºC (200 cycles/day) under water contact or not. After subjecting the specimens to the AgNO(3) technique, they were sectioned twice. Dye penetration was measured and the mean values were subjected to ANOVA. No group provided hermetic seal against dye penetration, even the control group (without treatment). Significant aging x water interaction effect (p=0.033) was observed. The group without water contact at 5ºC (p=0.015) showed the least dye penetration value. The results led to the main conclusions: 1) all groups showed dye penetration, even the control group; 2) storage teeth at 5ºC on dry condition provided the lowest degree of dye penetration; 3) in the presence of water, the temperature variations seem not to affect the microleakage values.