PURPOSE: To evaluate the marginal microleakage of class II composite resin (CR) restorations due to restorative techniques. METHODS: Forty human extracted premolars were assigned to 4 groups (n=10). Class II cavities were prepared (4-mm wide, 2-mm axially, with the gingival margin located 1 mm beyond the cementum-enamel-junction), and the restorative adhesive system Prime & Bond 2.1/TPH³ (Dentsply) was used. CR was inserted by the oblique incremental technique (OIT) and cured in continuous exposure. The restoratives techniques were: group 1 (control): OIT; group 2: flowable resin (1 mm) applied in the gingival wall + OIT; group 3: OIT + three pre-cured spheres inserted in the first increment of CR; and, group 4: OIT + strip of fiberglass inserted in the first increment of CR. The specimens were subjected to a thermocycling regimen of 500 cycles (1 min at 5º-37º-55ºC), coated with two layers of nail varnish up to 1 mm from the restoration margins, and immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsine solution for 24 h. The extension of dye penetration at the cervical wall (µm) was evaluated using an optic microscope at x40. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α=0.05). RESULTS: The microleakage values were: G1: 370 µm ± 241; G2: 398 µm ± 354; G3: 205 µm ± 119; and G4: 413 µm ± 340. No statistically significant differences were found among the restorative techniques (P=0.081). CONCLUSION: Marginal microleakage values were not influenced by the different restorative techniques tested.
Composite resin; marginal microleakage; restorative technique