Purpose: To evaluate and compare the microleakage of amalgam restorati
ons lined with four different liners. Materials and Methods: Cylindric
al occlusal cavities were prepared in extracted human molars and the t
eeth were then divided into four groups and lined with one of four lin
ers: Amalcoden, AM (glass-metal ionomer), FujiDuet, FD (glass ionomer)
, Amalgambond, AB (adhesive resin), or copal varnish, CV. Each cavity
was then restored with a high-copper amalgam alloy and aged for 7 days
in 37 degrees C distilled water. The specimens were then thermocycled
for 300 cycles followed by;immersion-in 0.5% basic fuchsin dye soluti
on for 24 hours. The teeth were then embedded in resin, sectioned, and
dye penetration at the tooth/amalgam interface evaluated microscopica
lly at x100 and Scored from 0 to 4 (0= no leakage and 4 = greatest lea
kage). Results: The median values were: AM=1.0; FD=0.5; AB=1.1; and CV
=4.0. Statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U ind
icated no significant differences between AM and AB or FD and AB. CV w
as however, significantly worse at P<0.01.