Effect of desiccation on microleakage of five Class 5 restorative materials

Resin-modified glass ionomers, combinations of resin and glass-ionomer chemistry, have resulted in materials with longer working times and command set by visible light activation. These materials are easier to use and more resistant to early moisture contamination and fracture. A glass-ionomer or resin-modified glass-ionomer restoration may be inadvertently desiccated by isolation of the same quadrant for subsequent restorative procedures. The present study is an assessment of the effects of desiccation on microleakage of three resin-modified glass-ionomers: Vitremer, Photac-Fil, Fuji II LC; a glass-ionomer, Ketac-Fil; and a microfill resin, Silux Plus. Fifty extracted molars were prepared with class 5 preparations buccal and lingual and randomly assigned to 10 groups (n = 10). Restorations were placed according to the manufacturers' specifications and finished wet after the manufacturers' specified setting interval. All samples were thermocycled 300 cycles between 50 and 500 degrees C. Samples were stored in water at all times until the five groups to be desiccated were air dried and stored dry for 45 minutes. Desiccated groups were then rehydrated for 24 hours prior to AgNO3 staining. Teeth were sectioned mesiodistally and four buccolingual sections (0.6 mm thick) through each class 5 restoration were obtained with a Silverstone-Taylor hard tissue microtome. Each section was scored on a scale of 0-4 for microleakage, and the highest score for dye penetration was used as the score for that restoration. An increase in microleakage was observed in all desiccated groups. Three materials showed a statistically significant increase in microleakage (P < 0.05) following desiccation. Microleakage increases following a brief period of desiccation corresponding to typical treatment times indicate that clinicians need to protect previously placed restorations from undue drying during subsequent dental treatment.