Microleakage of amalgam restorations using dentin bonding system primers

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Restorative Dentistry
• Adhesion Science

Background:

• Microleakage at the tooth-restoration interface is a significant clinical concern.
• Dentin bonding systems (DBS) aim to improve the seal of amalgam restorations.
• The role of dentin etching in conjunction with DBS primers for Class I amalgam restorations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the in vitro microleakage of etched and non-etched Class I amalgam restorations.
• To evaluate restorations lined with various dentin bonding system primers.
• To compare these with amalgam restorations using a Copalite liner or no liner.

Main Methods:

• 140 extracted molars underwent Class I amalgam preparations and were divided into 14 groups.
• Restorations were placed with different treatments: no liner, Copalite, various DBS primers (etched and non-etched).
• Specimens were aged, thermocycled, immersed in dye, sectioned, and evaluated for microleakage at x100 magnification.

Main Results:

• Unlined, Copalite-lined, and all non-etched groups exhibited considerable marginal leakage.
• Etched restorations significantly reduced microleakage compared to non-etched, no liner, and Copalite groups.
• Amalgambond AA showed the least microleakage among all tested groups.

Conclusions:

• Etching dentin prior to DBS primer application significantly enhances the marginal seal of Class I amalgam restorations.
• Dentin bonding system primers, especially when used with etching, offer superior microleakage reduction compared to traditional liners.
• Amalgambond AA appears to be a highly effective system for minimizing microleakage in Class I amalgam restorations.