Efficacy of composite surface sealers in sealing cavosurface marginal gaps.
OBJECTIVE
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.
D'Alpino
Paulo H
PH
Department of Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Materials, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Pereira
José C
JC
Rueggeberg
Frederick A
FA
Svizero
Nádia R
NR
Miyake
Katsuya
K
Pashley
David H
DH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001641:Bicuspid; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000737:chemistry*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D004396:Coloring Agents; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants