Effect of cavosurface treatment on marginal leakage in class V composite resin restorations.

Under the experimental conditions used in this in vitro study, the following conclusions may be drawn: 1. Etching of the enamel walls in butt and beveled preparations significantly reduces incisal marginal leakage. 2. The application of a low-viscosity bonding resin to the etched enamel walls of preparations prior to the insertion of the composite resin is not necessary to obtain minimal incisal leakage at the composite resin/etched enamel interface. 3. Cavosurface configuration has no significant effect on incisal marginal leakage. 4. Cavosurface configuration and the restorative techniques used in this study affect the degree of gingival microleakage to some extent but do not eliminate it.