ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: One of the problems with a high filler content composite resins is gap formation at restorative material-tooth interface. The present study investigated the effect of preheating composite resins on the formation of marginal gap in Cl II restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this in vitro study Sixty Cl II cavities were prepared on the mesial and distal surfaces of 30 extracted premolar teeth. The gingival floor of cavities was placed 1 m below the CEJ. The samples were randomly allocated to 4 groups for restoration placement: group 1, Filtek P60 composite resin at room temperature; group 2, Filtek P60 composite resin at 68°C; group 3, X-tra fil composite resin at room temperature; and group 4, X-tra fil composite resin at 68°C. After a thermocycling procedure, the teeth were sectioned longitudinally in a buccolingual direction. Then the marginal gaps of the samples were measured at proximal and gingival margins under a scanning electron microscope at ×2000 magnification in µm. The data were analyzed with SPSS 21, using one-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey tests and paired t-test (α=0.05). RESULTS: Groups 2 and 4 exhibited significantly lower marginal gaps, compared to groups 1 and 3, at both enamel (P<0.0001 and P=0.001, respectively) and dentinal walls (P<0.0001). In all the groups, there was significantly less marginal gaps at composite-enamel wall compared to composite-dentin wall interfaces (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 3 and groups 2 and 4 in enamel walls (p= 0.96, p= 0.99 respectively) and dentinal walls (p= 0.85, p=0.98 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Preheating resulted in a decrease in marginal gaps in both composite resins. The effect of composite resin type on marginal adaptation was the same. Key words:Composite resin, dental marginal adaptation, preheating.
