Effect of Finishing and Polishing Time, Technique and Surface Coating on Microleakage of Encapsulated Restorative Resin Modified Glass Ionomer: An In Vitro Study

This study aimed to assess the effect of finishing and polishing time, technique and surface coating on microleakage of encapsulated restorative resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI).

In this in vitro study, 40 freshly extracted human premolars were selected. Two standard class V cavities were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces of each tooth. The prepared teeth were randomly assigned to eight experimental groups (n=10) according to the finishing and polishing time, technique and surface coating. The samples were blindly examined for marginal microleakage using a stereomicroscope at x40 magnification. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the obtained data with the level of significance set at P<0.05.

Groups with surface coating showed significantly lower microleakage than uncoated samples (P<0.001). The groups in which discs were used had lower microleakage (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with delayed or immediate finishing and polishing (P>0.05). Our results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between enamel and dentinal walls with regard to marginal microleakage scores (P>0.05).

Immediate finishing and polishing of coated restorations with Sof-Lex discs decreases their marginal microleakage. Also, it is more effective at the gingival margin.