Microleakage of a consolidated silver direct filling material

Microleakage of an experimental direct filling material comprised of a chem ically precipitated silver powder that had been surface treated with a dilu te acid to promote cold welding upon consolidation was evaluated. Microleak age was compared to both dispersed-phase and spherical amalgam by use of an in vitro gas-diffusion method and in class 5 restorations placed in extrac ted human teeth. The effect of two cavity varnishes and two dentin adhesive s as cavity liners on microleakage was also evaluated using extracted teeth . Microleakage of silver powder consolidated with dental instruments was le ss than that found with dental amalgam. The use of copal or polyamide cavit y varnish resulted in the lowest combination of microleakage on dentin and enamel margins.