Microleakage evaluation of four self-etching adhesive systems.

This study sought to compare and rank the in vitro microleakage behavior of four self-etching adhesive systems to determine any differences in their marginal sealing ability. Using a coarse rounded diamond wheel, Class V cavities were prepared at the facial or lingual cementoenamel junction (CEJ) of 40 recently extracted human third molars. All preparations had incisal margins in enamel and gingival margins in dentin. Ten randomly selected teeth were restored with one of four different adhesive systems; all teeth received the same composite material. The teeth were stored in distilled water (37 degrees C) for four weeks, thermocycled between 4 degrees C and 58 degrees C for 100 cycles, treated with 45Ca radioisotope, sectioned, and placed on radiographic film to produce autoradiographs. The degree of microleakage was scored separately at the enamel (incisal) and dentin (gingival) margins, and the results were compared using nonparametric statistical methods. The analysis found statistically significant differences in the degree of microleakage between the materials used at both the dentin and enamel margins.