In vitro analysis of marginal adaptation and resistance of different dental composites: Stereo and scanning electron microscopic evaluation

To compare the performance, by scanning electron microscopic analysis, of the interface between tooth and four commercial restorative composite resins in Class I cavities following exposure to acidified artificial solution, pH 4.5, with a background electrolyte composition similar to saliva, 600 teeth were divided into 4 groups. The first group was treated with microfilled light-cured Heliomolar; the second group with Durafill; the third group with the microfilled self-cured Isomolar; and the fourth group was treated using the hybrid self-cured Miradapt. All teeth of each group were randomly divided into two sub-groups: A) a control group that was immersed in artificial saliva (pH 7); B) a study group that was immersed in artificial saliva acidified with phosphoric acid (pH 4.5) in order to obtain artificial caries. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed using Pearson's Chisquared test (χ2) with R statistical software. The statistical analyses demonstrated significant differences in the two sub-groups A and B when considered for the light-cured composites whereas no difference was monitored for self-cured composites. Statistical analysis (p< 0.001) also demonstrated that the type of composite strongly influenced the infiltration grade. Our results demonstrate that incremental layering techniques might improve the marginal adaptation for light-cured composites, while self-cured show a marked polymerization contraction which can cause marginal breakdown.