AMALGAM ALTERNATIVES - MICROLEAKAGE EVALUATION OF CLINICAL PROCEDURES- PART II - DIRECT INDIRECT COMPOSITE INLAY SYSTEMS/

This study investigated the degree of dye penetration of two composite inlay systems with different adhesive and bonding protocol. Forty who le extracted premolars and molars were collected. The teeth were immed iately stored in water at room temperature. Class II cavity preparatio ns were prepared and restored both, in the direct and the indirect tec hniques (Coltene Brilliant(R)) and (Kulzer Estilux posterior CVS(R)). The inlays were cemented with a composite luting cement (ART(R)-Bond) and (Kulzer, Adhesive cement(R)). Specimens were subjected to 750 cycl es of thermal stress. They were than immersed in 2% Basic fuchsin dye. The teeth were sectioned in three planes before being ranked as to th e amount of dye penetration. The data were analysed by the Wilcoxon's rank: test at the 95% confidence level. There was no statistically sig nificant difference between the direct and indirect technique consider ed separately for each composite inlay material, at the cervical margi n location. The fuchsin staining in the occlusal area was limited to t he enamel in all groups. By using the composite inlay, the factor of a daptation and bonding of composites to dentine become the significant factor contributing to leakage.