Secondary caries adjacent to restorative materials.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Cariology
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Secondary caries remains a significant challenge in restorative dentistry.
• Evaluating the anticariogenic potential of restorative materials is crucial for improving clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the laboratory efficacy of fluoride-releasing restorative materials in reducing secondary caries.
• To compare the secondary caries inhibition of Activa Restorative and Beautifil Giomer against controls.

Main Methods:

• Class V cavities were prepared in 20 maxillary molars and restored with Filtek Bulk Fil, Equia Forte, Beautifil Giomer, or Activa Restorative.
• Restored teeth underwent thermal cycling and demineralization to induce artificial caries.
• Lesion depth and wall lesion frequency were quantified using polarized light microscopy and statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Filtek Bulk Fil showed significantly higher lesion depths and wall lesion frequencies compared to all other groups.
• Activa Restorative exhibited significantly lower lesion depths and wall lesion frequencies on both enamel and root surfaces than Equia Forte and Beautifil Giomer.
• All tested restorative materials demonstrated some reduction in lesion progression compared to the negative control.

Conclusions:

• Fluoride release from restorative materials contributes to secondary caries reduction.
• Activa Restorative demonstrated superior anticariogenic properties compared to Equia Forte glass-ionomer and Beautifil Giomer in laboratory conditions.
• These findings suggest Activa Restorative may offer enhanced protection against secondary caries progression.