Efficacy of composite surface sealers in sealing cavosurface marginal gaps

D'Alpino, Paulo H.; Pereira, José C.; Rueggeberg, Frederick A.; Svizero, Nádia R.; Miyake, Katsuya; Pashley, David H.

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2005.06.010

« PreviousJournal of Dentistry
Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 252-259, March 2006

Efficacy of composite surface sealers in sealing cavosurface marginal gaps

Paulo H. D'Alpino
- Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
José C. Pereira
- Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Frederick A. Rueggeberg
- Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Room AD 3265A, 30912-1260 Augusta, GA, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 706 721 3354; fax: +1 706 721 8349.
Nádia R. Svizero
- Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade do Sagrado Coração, Bauru, SP, Brazil
Katsuya Miyake
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
David H. Pashley
- Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA

Received 31 March 2005; received in revised form 20 June 2005; accepted 21 June 2005.

Summary

Objectives

The ability of commercially available composite surface sealers to penetrate and seal a controlled gap formed in all-enamel margin, Class V in vitro resin composite restorations in human bicuspids was examined.

Methods

A fluorescent red dye (Rhodamine B) was incorporated to a variety of commercially available composite surface sealers. The teeth were restored using acid etching, a dentin bonding agent, and a photo-activated microfilled composite, finished, polished, and sealed. The teeth were thermocycled and then immersed in an aqueous solution of a green fluorescent dye (Dextran-Fluorescein) to evaluate the sealing ability and penetration of surface sealers into the controlled gaps formed at unbonded margins. Teeth were embedded, sectioned, and images recorded using confocal microscopy.

Results

All sealers leaked, and use of a dentin-bonding agent to seal the gap performed better than the commercial sealing products.

Conclusions

Commercial surface sealers evaluated were not able to totally seal controlled-size cavosurface gaps, and sealer penetration into the controlled gap varied greatly. Composite restorative procedures should be performed to obtain ideal marginal sealing, minimizing the need for composite surface sealers, which were found to not totally seal an exposed cavosurface margin. Use of a dentin-bonding agent may provide better sealing than commercial products developed specifically for this purpose.

Keywords: Dentin-bonding agent, Composite surface sealers, Fluorescence microscopy