In vitro evaluation of wall-to-wall adaptation of a self-adhesive resin cement used for luting gold and ceramic inlays.

PURPOSE

This in vitro study evaluated the wall-to-wall adaptation of a new self-adhesive resin-based cement (RelyX Unicem) in comparison with that of other cements when luting gold and porcelain inlays in standardized Class II cavities in extracted teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In each experimental group (n = 10), a different combination of inlay and luting material was tested. Group 1: Porcelain Empress II (Ell) and RelyX Unicem (U); group 2: Ell and resin-based cement Variolink II in combination with primer and bonding Excite DSC; group 3: gold inlays (G) and U; group 4: G and Harvard zinc-oxy-phosphate cement; group 4: G and glass-ionomer cement Fuji Cem. After storage and thermocycling, microleakage testing was carried out and dye penetration was examined at the occlusal and cervical margins of each inlay. The differences in microleakage score were tested for statistical significance first comparing all groups, then pooling the groups for inlay material (Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). SEM observations of the tooth/cement/restoration interfaces were also made in each group.

RESULTS

Harvard cement had the highest microleakage. The sealing ability exhibited by RelyX Unicem was satisfactory with both gold and porcelain inlays, and comparable to that of Fuji Cem and Variolink II.

CONCLUSION

RelyX Unicem achieved an adequate seal on both enamel and dentin when used to lute in vitro gold and porcelain inlays.