Performance of self-adhesive luting-resins on microleakage of Empress-2 inlay restorations

Methods: The cylindrical cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of forty extracted human third molars using diamond burs with a standard dimension. The inlays prepared according to the dimensions of the bur were luted with Multilink Sprint (Ivoclar-Vivadent, Liechtenstein), RelyX Unicem (3M Espe, USA) , GCem Capsule (GC, Japan)or Variolink II(Ivoclar-Vivadent, Liechtenstein) as the control samples. The luting agents were applied according to the manufacturers' instructions. The restorations were properly finished and subjected to 1000 thermal cycles between the baths of 5 and 55 C, with a dwell time of 30 s. The microleakage scores were examined on the occlusal and gingival margins at x30 magnification after each sample was stained with 0.5% basic fuchsin and separated into four parts using a thin diamond blade (Isomet, Buehler, USA). The extent of microleakage on both occlusal and gingival margins of the restorations was scored and recorded. Then, the samples were evaluated in the SEM. The microleakage data were analyzed using Kruskall Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests.

Results: Microleakage scores on the occlusal margins are;

Variolink II < Rely X Unicem < G-Cem = Multilink Sprint

Microleakage scores on the gingival margins are;

Variolink II = Rely X Unicem < G-Cem < Multilink Sprint

Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in both margins according to the Kruskall Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests (p<0.05). Distinct gaps were also determined between the luting agent and tooth tissues in the samples with higher microleakage scores in the SEM evaluation.

Conclusion: Self-adhesive resin cements displayed higher microleakage scores on the occlusal margins while on the gingival margins RelyX Unicem showed comparable microleakage results with the control samples.