INTRODUCTION: Microleakage has been regarded as a primary concern for the use of composites in class II cavity restorations. Many techniques have attempted to minimize this leakage.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the microleakage in class II cavities restored with composite resins applied with either incremental, bulk fill or Sonic fill techniques.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty sound human permanent lower molars extracted for periodontal problems. Occluso-mesial class II cavity was prepared in each tooth, with the cervical margin of the proximal box located 1 mm occlusal to the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ). The prepared teeth were randomly distributed to four groups with 10 specimens each (n=10). In each group, a self-etch adhesive was applied, followed by composite resin that was applied in either incremental, bulk fill or sonic fill technique; Group I: [Optibond all in one +Herculite XRV Ultra], Group II: [ Optibond all in one+ Premise flowable + Herculite XRV Ultra], Group III: [Single bond universal+Filtek bulkfill + Filtek Z250XT], Group IV: [ Optibond all in oneSonicFill]. All restored specimens were soaked in basic fuchsin dye for 24 hours, and sectioned mesiodistally to detect the extent of dye penetration by stereomicroscope. Data were collected and statistically analyzed.
RESULTS: The cervical margins showed more microleakage than the occlusal margins. Sonicfill in Group IV recorded the lowest mean value of microleakage scores among the four groups occlusally (mean=0.10), whereas Premise Flowable + Hercuilte XRV Ultra in Group II showed the highest mean value (1.20) . Sonic fill in Group 1V recorded the lowest mean value of microleakage scores among the four groups cervically (mean= 0.80), whereas Premise Flowable + Hercuilte XRV Ultra in Group II showed the highest mean value (1.60). Kruskall-Wallis test proved no significant difference among groups. Mann Whitney test proved significant difference between Group II and Group IV occlusally.
CONCLUSIONS: Sonic fill showed the best results in terms of marginal seal