Marginal leakage of class II combined amalgam-composite restorations

ABSTRACT

A combination of amalgam and posterior composite resin advocated to overcome the difficulties associated with class II posterior composite resin restorations, especially when gingival margin lies close to or apical to the cementoenamel junction. The technique was described whereby the proximal portion of class II cavities is restored with amalgam to the contact area and the composite resin inserted in the remainder of the cavity. Microleakage was studied by dye penetration test. At the composite resin/cementum interface microleakage was significantly greater than at the amalgam/cementum and amalgam/composite resin interface [P <0.001]. No statistically significant difference was observed in microleakage between the amalgam/cementum and amalgam/composite resin interface