Cavity varnish and cavity liner appearance on enamel and dentin

To study the appearance of a cavity varnish and a cavity liner on prepared enamel and dentin surfaces, longitudinal tooth sections were coated once or twice with Copalite or Tubulitec. Some test specimens were immersed in saline solution for 24 hours, while others were kept in air. They were observed in SEM, and the degree of coverage of the test surfaces, and the smoothness of the materials were evaluated. Neither material provided complete coverage whether one or two layers were applied. Tubulitec seemed to be partially dissolved after immersion in saline solution. Generally, Copalite covered the surfaces better and was smoother than Tubulitec. These findings have implications in regard to the ability of the materials to protect the underlying tissues and to prevent microleakage, which were discussed.