MICROLEAKAGE OF BONDING AGENTS WITH WET AND DRY BONDING TECHNIQUES

Purpose: To assess the microleakage of Class V preparations restored w ith three bonding agents using wet and dry bonding. Materials and Meth ods: Cavities were prepared in the buccal and lingual surfaces of extr acted human premolar teeth and restored with resin composite after app lication of the dentin bonding agents, using a wet or dry bonding tech nique. The teeth were stored for 2 weeks at 37 degrees C, thermocycled , and the restorations examined for leakage using buffered methylene b lue as the marker. The teeth were sectioned bucco-lingually through th e restorations and the degree of microleakage assessed microscopically . Results: All groups showed leakage at both the dentin and enamel mar gins. There was no significant difference in leakage at the enamel mar gins between groups (P>0.05) and no significant differences in leakage between the wet bonding (P>0.05) or dry bonding (P>0.05) procedures. However, when comparing the effects of wet and dry bonding, there was less leakage at the gingival margin in the groups where the bonding ag ent was acetone-based and wet bonding was used (P<0.03). There was no significant difference in leakage for Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus wh en either maleic acid or phosphoric acid was used as the etchant (P>0. 05).