Long-term monitoring of microleakage of composites. Part I: Radiochemical diffusion technique

Abstract

S everal studies have shown that microleakage is an important cause of bacterial contamination beneath composite restorations. Is3 A close relationship has been demonstrated between marginal adaptation of composite restorations and bacterial growth in cavities.4 These studies and others have demonstrated that pulpal inflammation under composite restorations is associated with microbial proliferation in the marginal gap around these restorations.5*6 Thus microbial microleakage has been recognized as an important factor in the biologic compatibility of resin-based restorations. The number and diversity of composite restorative materials available to the dentist has increased considerably in recent years.’ The factors controlling microleakage around such restorations are still largely unknown. This investigation used a previously described quantitative radiochemical diffusion technique to monitor the microleakage of three types of composite.*s9 A special aspect of this study was the influence of acid etching the enamel cavity walls. In part II of this report, a scanning electron microscopic evaluation was made of restorations to determine whether different composites affected the quality of tag formation against acid-etched enamel. The study also investigated the possibility of a relationship between resin tag formation and microleakage.”