Microleakage resistance of minimally invasive Class I flowable composite restorations.
Minimally invasive flowable composite Class I restorations are widely used. However, flowable composites are characterized by low filler contents, modified resin formulations, low moduli of elasticity, low viscosity, generally poor mechanical properties, and decreased long-term stability. The purpose of this study was to compare the microleakage resistance of a wide variety of flowable composites used with their manufacturers' recommended bonding systems to that of a long-used and widely studied microhybrid composite when placed as minimally invasive occlusal restorations. Molar teeth were prepared in a standardized manner, restored, artificially aged, stained, sectioned, evaluated, and analyzed. Microleakage varied substantially, by a whole order of magnitude, among the material groups tested. The control group, a conventional microhybrid composite material, leaked significantly less than all the flowable composite groups. Microleakage varied very slightly among measurement site locations. Tiny microscopic bubbles were seen within many of the flowable composite specimens, as were a few voids.
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Denitstry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Esteban D
ED
Bonilla
Richard G
RG
Stevenson
Angelo A
AA
Caputo
Shane N
SN
White
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008963:Molar; D016062:Porosity; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003188:Composite Resins; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D019279:Resin Cements