The effect of antimicrobial pre-treatments on the performance of resin composite restorations.

This study evaluated the effects of four cavity pre-treatments on the microleakage of a fifth generation adhesive system and accompanying resin composite. Sixty human molars were randomly selected for cavity pre-treatment for the following material groups: Ultra-Etch 35% phosphoric acid gel, Ultra-Etch AB 35% phosphoric acid gel with cetylpyridinium chloride antimicrobial agent, Ultra-Etch 35% phosphoric acid gel followed by Concepsis chlorhexidine gluconate antimicrobial solution, Ultra-Etch 35% phosphoric acid gel followed by Consepsis Scrub chlorhexidine gluconate antimicrobial slurry and no etchant and/or cavity pre-treatment. Circular preparations were cut on the facial or lingual surface of each tooth and treated with the appropriate etchant/cavity disinfectant. PQ1 self-priming adhesive was placed in the preparations followed by Vitalescence resin composite. The molars were thermocycled, sealed with nail varnish, placed in 5% methylene blue dye and sectioned. Leakage was assessed by dye penetration at the occlusal and gingival surface positions of the specimen blocks using a binocular microscope. The Consepsis Scrub and no pre-treatment groups revealed significantly greater leakage than the other groups treated with antimicrobial disinfectants or etchants. No significant differ. ences were shown in the two etchant groups that were compared, Ultra-Etch and Ultra-Etch AB. Significantly greater leakage was not exhibited by the same materials at the occlusal vs gingival surface positions.