The effects of cavity smear layer removal on experimental marginal leakage around amalgam restorations

Unvarnished freshly-packed dental amalgam restorations leak initially. However, with time, a marginal seal is usually effected. It is not known whether the smear layer which forms during cavity preparation is associated with this leakage pattern. This study was undertaken to evaluate experimental marginal leakage around amalgam restorations (left in situ for one and 12 wk) which had been placed in cavities prepared with and without removal of the smear layer in vital and devitalized teeth. The cavities were obturated with two types of dental amalgams, a conventional and a dispersed-phase amalgam. The excised teeth restorations were subjected to a fluorescent dye marginal leakage experiment. All of the short-term specimens leaked severely, but some of the long-term specimens displayed significant sealing properties. No significant differences were found between the two types of amalgams. However, the non-vital tooth specimens and cavities without smear layers displayed significantly improved sealing properties.