Microleakage in restorations with glass ionomer liners after thermocycling

The purpose of this study was to compare microleakage around two types of restorations lined with polyalkenoate (glass ionomer) cements after thermocycling. Preparations were made in 48 molars to a diameter and depth of 2.0 mm. Half of the preparations were lined with glass ionomer, and the remainder were not lined. Dental amalgam or glass ionomer restorative material was placed and the amalgams were left unburnished and unpolished. Selected restorations were thermocycled 625 times between 4 degrees C and 50 degrees C. Teeth were immersed in 0.5 per cent methylene blue solution, sectioned and visually scored for microleakage at X 100 magnification. Data analysis indicated significant differences in microleakage because of: thermocycling (chi 2 = 103.38, d.f. = 19,2P less than 0.0004); presence of glass ionomer liners (chi 2 = 53.28, d.f. = 19,2P less than 0.0001); and type of restorative material (chi 2 = 103.44,d.f. = 19,2P less than 0.0004). The use of a glass ionomer liner significantly reduced microleakage in both amalgam and glass ionomer restorations when subjected to thermocycling.