Effect of pulp pressure on the micropermeability and sealing ability of etch & rinse and self-etching adhesives.

This research evaluated the effect of pulp pressure on the micropermeability and sealing ability of etch & rinse and self-etching adhesives. Two etch & rinse adhesives (Prime&Bond NT and Admira Bond) and one self-etching adhesive (Xeno III) were used. Adhesive layer micropermeability was evaluated by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Eighteen molars were connected to a pulp pressure device and divided into two groups. One group was restored with pulp pressure and the other group without. Each group was divided into three subgroups according to the adhesive used. The adhesives were rhodamine-labeled and Class V cavities were restored. After restoration, all specimens were kept under pulp pressure conditions for 24 hours with fluorescein-labeled pulp fluid. The specimens were sectioned and the axial wall was observed under CLSM. A microleakage test was performed to evaluate the sealing. Thirty molars were divided into two groups. One group was prepared with a pulp pressure device and the other group without. Each group was divided into three subgroups as a function of the adhesive used. Class V cavities were restored and the specimens were immersed in fuchsin and sectioned. Microleakage and dentin penetration were recorded in the occlusal and gingival walls. A CLSM study showed that the etch & rinse adhesives had higher micropermeability compared to the self-etching adhesives and pulp pressure made all the adhesives more permeable. In the occlusal wall, the best sealing (hermetic) was obtained when etch & rinse adhesives were used. Xeno obtained the lowest occlusal sealing values. In the gingival wall, Xeno obtained the best sealing, followed by Admira and Prime&Bond. Pulp fluid decreased gingival wall sealing when etch & rinse adhesives were used but not when self-etching adhesive was used.

Effect of cooled composite inserts in the sealing ability of resin composite restorations placed at intraoral temperatures: an in vitro study.

Polymerization shrinkage causes microleakage of resin composite restorations. New materials and operative techniques should be developed in order to reduce polymerization shrinkage. This research studied the effects of cooled composite inserts and room-temperature composite inserts in the sealing ability of resin composite restorations placed at intraoral temperatures. Forty-eight extracted human molars (providing a total of 155 sections) were kept at intraoral temperatures, and Class V cavities were restored with an ormocer-based resin composite (Admira, Voco). Three restorative techniques were used: conventional bulk insertion (Group I or control group) (n = 53 sections), room-temperature resin composite inserts (Group II) (n = 52) and cooled resin composite inserts (Group III) (n = 50). Microleakage and penetrating microleakage were studied under the microscope. Cooled composite inserts reduce microleakage at the gingival margins with respect to Groups I (p = 0.002) and II (p = 0.014). When small-size cooled composite inserts were used, the sealing ability at the gingival margins of Class V composite restorations was improved with respect to the bulk insertion technique and the room-temperature composite inserts technique.