MICROLEAKAGE OF RESIN MODIFIED GLASS-IONOMER CEMENT RESTORATIONS - ANIN-VITRO STUDY

Microleakage of two resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorat ive materials was compared with that of two conventional GIC restorati ve materials. Forty-five noncarious extracted human molars were prepar ed with standardized Class V cavity outlines on the buccal and lingual surfaces. The occlusal margin was in enamel and the gingival margin w as in dentin/cementum. All were restored according to the manufacturer s' instructions. After thermocycling, 30 teeth were placed in 2% basic fuchsin dye for 24 h, sectioned and viewed with a stereomicroscope to assess microleakage. The other 15 teeth were sectioned, replicated an d prepared for marginal gap evaluation using a SEM. Differences in mic roleakage scores between materials were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. One resin-modified GIC restorative material showed significantly less microleakage against enamel and dentin/cemen tum compared to the conventional GIC restorative (p<0.01). Marginal ga p formation for both resin-modified GIC restorations was limited to th e axial wall of the restorations.