A comparative evaluation of microleakage in class v composite restorations

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Microleakage at tooth-restoration margins is a significant clinical concern.
• Evaluating new restorative materials and techniques is crucial for improving longevity and preventing secondary caries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the marginal microleakage of Class V cavities restored with conventional composite resin, composite resin with a flowable liner, and injectable nanohybrid composite resin.

Main Methods:

• Sixty Class V cavities in extracted teeth were restored using three different techniques.
• Specimens underwent thermocycling and cyclic loading before being stained with basic fuchsin to assess dye penetration.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon tests.

Main Results:

• All tested restorative materials exhibited some degree of microleakage.
• Microleakage was consistently higher at the gingival margins compared to occlusal margins across all groups.
• The injectable composite resin (G-ænial Flo) demonstrated the lowest microleakage at the gingival wall.

Conclusions:

• None of the evaluated restorative materials completely eliminated microleakage in Class V cavities.
• Gingival margins are more susceptible to microleakage than occlusal margins.
• Injectable nanohybrid composite resin shows promising results in reducing microleakage, particularly at the critical gingival interface.