Three-dimensional reconstruction of microleakage pattern using a sequential grinding technique

Dye penetration tests are very commonly used to detect the absence of a fluid seal at the tooth-restoration interface. Airlocks in the marginal gap, leaching of water-soluble tracers during processing, and the failure of only a few sections to allow interpretation of the full pattern, limit these tests to low reproducibility and precision. The purpose of this present study was to generate high-resolution three-dimensional images of waterfast tracer patterns. Cylindrical class V (3 mm diameter, 2 mm deep) dentine-bonded resin composite restorations in buccal coronal dentine were thermally cycled (1000 x, 8 degrees C, 55 degrees C, 30 s dwell at each temperature) and then silver stained using an initial vacuum (100 mmHg pressure). Each restoration was sequentially abraded from the free surface on wet 180 grit silicon carbide paper, producing up to 30 parallel surfaces at approximately 0.15 mm separation through the restoration down to the pulp. Images of the ground surfaces were captured, and assembled by a computer image analyser program to give a three-dimensional model of the tracer pattern. The maximum depths of tracer penetration below the reference surfaces were 3.00 mm, 2.09 mm, 3.16 mm and > 2.29 mm for the four specimens. Projections of the models were viewed from several directions with sections in various locations to allow investigation of the full tracer pattern. This method allows the creation of high-resolution three-dimensional tracer patterns.