Effects of filling techniques on the regional bond strength to lateral walls in Class I cavities

Placement of Posterior Composite Restorations: A Cross-Sectional Study of Dental Practitioners in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Dental practitioner-related factors can affect the quality of composite restorations. This study aimed to investigate the clinical techniques used by dental practitioners (DPs) while placing direct posterior composite restorations. Methods: A questionnaire survey that sought information related to the placement of posterior composite restorations was delivered to 161 DPs working in the Al-Kharj area, Saudi Arabia. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test considering the DP’s working sector and the answered questions. Results: A total of 123 DPs completed the survey (76.4% response rate). There was a statistically significant difference between DPs working in the private sector and those working in the governmental sector in 7 out of 17 questionnaire items namely: preparing a minimum depth of 2 mm, (p = 0.001); mechanical means of retention, (p = 0.003); operative field isolation, (p = 0.004); adhesive strategy, (p < 0.001); light-curing unit used, (p = 0.013); the use of radiometer, (p = 0.023), and dental matrix selection, (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The clinical techniques applied by DPs working in the private sector in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia when placing posterior composite restorations, including the specifications of cavity preparation, operative field isolation, and selection of the dental matrix system, may be substandard compared to those applied by DPs working in the governmental sector.

Effect of resin-modified glass-ionomer cement lining and composite layering technique on the adhesive interface of lateral wall

Interface integrity can be maintained by setting the composite in a layering technique and using liners.

Effect of the insertion and polymerization technique in composite resin restorations: analysis of marginal gap by atomic force microscopy

This in vitro study evaluated the marginal gap at the composite tooth/resin interface in class V cavities under the influence of two insertion techniques and a curing system by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Forty enamel and dentin cavities were prepared on the buccal surface in bovine teeth with quadratic forms measuring 2 mm × 2 mm and depth of 1.5 mm. The teeth were then divided into four groups: group A, 10 cavities were restored in one increment, light cured by halogen light; group B, 10 cavities filled with bulk filling, light cured by the light emitting diodes (LED); group C, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by halogen light; group D, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by the LED. The teeth underwent the polishing procedure and were analyzed by AFM for tooth/restoration interface evaluation. The data were compared between groups using the nonparametric Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05). The results showed a statistically significant difference between groups A and B and groups A and C. It was concluded that no insertion and polymerization technique was able to completely seal the cavity.

Effect of filler content of flowable composites on resin-cavity interface

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate marginal integrity and wall adaptation in 1- and 2-mm-deep cavities restored with a high filler-loaded flowable composite in comparison to a flowable composite with lower filler content and a conventional hybrid composite. 1-mm-deep dentin and 2-mm-deep enamel-dentin Class I cavities were prepared and restored with a self-etch adhesive and with one of the composites. Samples were crosscut and evaluated for marginal integrity and gap formation using a digital microscope. Selected samples were also observed using a scanning electron microscope. For 1-mm-deep cavities, no differences in marginal integrity and wall adaptation were observed among the three composites. For 2-mm-deep cavities, those restored with the bulk technique and with the higher filler-loaded flowable composite demonstrated a similar outcome as that of the conventional hybrid composite. On the effect of restorative techniques, cohesive enamel defects were observed in bulk-filled 2-mm-deep cavities. However, when the incremental technique was used in conjunction with the higher filler-loaded flowable composite and the conventional hybrid composite for 2-mm-deep cavities, superior results were obtained.

Comparing microleakage and the layering methods of silorane-based resin composite in wide Class II MOD cavities

OBJECTIVE

This in vitro study compared the effects of different layering techniques and different monomer-based composites on microleakage.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Thirty-two freshly extracted caries-free human third molars were used. A wide mesio-occlusal-distal (MOD) cavity was prepared in each third molar, with the occlusal dimension being approximately two-thirds of the intercuspal dimension, and the cervical limit of one proximal box was stopped 1 mm below and the other 1 mm above the cementoenamel junction. The cavities were filled with a methacrylate-based nanohybrid composite (Grandio, VoCo) and a silorane-based microhybrid composite (Filtek Silorane, 3M ESPE). All samples were subjected to 1000 thermal cycles of 5 degrees C/55 degrees C in water with a 30-second dwell time and, after the procedure, the teeth were immersed in a 0.5% basic fuchsin dye at 23 degrees C for 24 hours. Sectioned samples were examined under a stereomicroscope (Leica MZ12, Leica Microsystems), and microleakage scores were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

No microleakage was observed for silorane-based resin composite restorations. The nanohybrid-based resin composite restorations showed different levels of leakage. Statistical analysis of microleakage scores showed differences only at the enamel margins for nanohybrid material for both layering techniques (p < 0.05). The nanohybrid-based resin composite restorations showed better results with the vertical layering technique for enamel margins.