Effect of dispensing method and curing modes on the microleakage of composite resins

Background: Vibration decreases the viscosity of composite, making it flow and readily fit the walls of the cavity. This study is initiated to see how this improved adaptation of the composite resin to the cavity walls will affect microleakage using different curing modes Materials and methods: Standard Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface of sixty extracted premolars. Teeth were randomly assigned into two groups (n=30) according to the composite condensation (vibration and conventional) technique, then subdivided into three subgroups (n=10) according to light curing modes (LED-Ramp, LED-Fast and Halogen Continuous modes). Cavities were etched and bonded with Single Bond Universal then restored with Filtek® Z350 (3M ESPE, USA). In the vibration group, condensation was done using Compothixo™ (Kerr, Switzerland). In the conventional group, condensation was done with hand plugger. Curing modes for all groups were LED-Ramp, LED-Fast and halogen continuous modes, respectively. Samples stored in distilled water at 37°C for seven days, and painted completely with two layers of nail varnish with only 1 mm around the composite restoration left. Samples were thermocycled, immersed in 2% methylene blue solution for 3 hours, and sectioned longitudinally. Dye penetration was assessed under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests with p <0.05 considered significant. Results: Vibration group showed less microleakage (P=0.028). In the conventional group there were no differences by using different curing modes (P=0.277). In the vibration group no differences were found between LED-Ramp and LED-Fast mode (P=0.989). However, there were significant differences between LED-Fast and halogen (P=0.05) and between LED-Ramp and halogen group (P=0.001). Microleakage scores of all cervical walls were higher than the occlusal walls (P=0.001). Occlusal walls leakage for conventional and vibration groups were not different (P=0.475), while there were significant differences between them at cervical walls (P=0.001). Conclusion: Vibration with LED-Ramp curing mode may decrease marginal leakage of composite restoration placed in Standard Class V tooth preparations.