MARGINAL LEAKAGE OF AMALGAM RESTORATIONS PRETREATED WITH VARIOUS LINERS

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.