Influence of Flowable Composite on Microleakage of Packable Resin Composite

Abstract

BACKGROUND-The wear resistance of contemporary resin-based composites have improved significantly and good proximal contact and contour can be achieved but polymerization shrinkage is the biggest challenge in direct resin-based composite restorations, shrinkage of the resin composite pulls it away from the cavity walls if the adhesive bond of the resin composite to the tooth structure is insufficient which results in the formation of a gap causing microleakage, staining, sensitivity, and or recurrent decay. MATERIAL AND METHODS-Sixty extracted non-carious, non-restored human molars, in the age group of 25 – 55 years, were used for this study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board. The soft tissues on the root surface of the teeth were cleaned and stored in 0.2% sodium azide at 4^●C. RESULTS- A statistically significant difference obtained in the microleakage between groups I and II. When groups I and III were compared, there was a significant difference between them. Group III exhibited significantly less leakage than group I. When comparing group I and IV, group IV showed higher dye leakage than group I, but it was not statistically significant. On comparing groups I and V, there was a very significant difference in group V, which showed a higher degree of leakage. CONCLUSION- In our study it was concluded that packable resin composite when used alone with self-etch adhesive, demonstrated minimum microleakage when compared to the total-etch system. The lining of class II cavities with a flowable resin composite, followed by packable restoration, demonstrated higher leakage values than when a packable resin composite was used alone.