The initial gap around large composite restorations in vitro: the effect of etching enamel walls

Composite resin restorations in cavities are generally associated with the development of a contraction gap during the first minutes after insertion. Enamel-Bond-Concise composite restoration were placed on both approximal sides of extracted pre-molars. The cervical walls of all cavities extended beyond the enamel-cement junction. The enamel walls of one of the cavities in each tooth were acid-etched. The contraction gap was kept air-filled and open at the margin through the use of a special technique. Enamel Bond resin with a fluorescent additive was applied to occlusal and cervical margins of the restorations. The fluorescent resin was "passively" drawn into the gap. In unetched cavities, resin penetrated both cervical and occlusal gaps and some areas of the gap at the axial wall. In cavities with etched enamel, the penetration occurred only at the cervical wall. The distance of penetration from the cervical margin varied from 1 to 6.5 mm, and the width of the contraction gap filled with the fluorescent resin varied from 3.5 to 16 micron. Comparison of the width of the gap at the cervical wall in etched and unetched cavities suggested larger gaps for etched cavities. The method used offers a new technique for the measurement of the contraction gaps around composite resin restorations.