Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the microleakage of Class V restorations filled with a 7th-generation self-adhesive composite.
Materials and methods: In 40 permanent premolars and 80 primary canines, 160 Class V cavities were prepared, which were filled with four restorative materials (n of each material=20 permanent and 20 primary restorations): control: nonbonded composite (Heliomolar), GI: glass ionomer (Fuji IX GP), BC: bonded Heliomolar, SC: self-adhesive composite (Embrace WetBond). Dye penetration was scored 0 to 4 at 160 coronal and 160 gingival margins under 40× magnification by two examiners. The data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test (α=0.01).
Results: The mean microleakages of the materials (in the order of 'control, GI, BC, SC') at each margin-dentition (n=20 margins) were: coronal-permanent (3.25±0.72, 2.75±0.72, 0.35±0.59, 2.7±0.73), coronal-primary (3.3±0.66, 2.85±0.88, 0.55±0.76, 2.65±1.14), gingival-permanent (3.35±0.67, 0.85±0.67, 2.95±0.83, 1.55±1.23), and gingival-primary (3.25±0.72, 0.85±0.59, 2.85±0.89, 2.85±0.93). Compared with the control microleakage at each margin-dentition (each group's n=20 margins), BC microleakage was significantly lesser at coronal margins only (p=0.000), GI microleakage was lower at gingival margins only (p=0.000), and SC microleakage was smaller at gingival margins of permanent teeth only (p=0.000). After combining coronal/gingival margins, only SC microleakage in primary dentition (n=40 margins) was not significantly lesser than the control in primary teeth (p=0.018); and microleakage of all other material-dentitions were lesser than corresponding control-dentitions (p=0.000). Permanent and primary teeth had similar results for all material-margins (p>0.5) except for SC at gingival margins (p=0.001).
Conclusion: SC should be used only at gingival margins of permanent teeth.
Clinical significance: Application of self-adhesive composite should be limited to gingival margins of permanent teeth.