Evaluation of marginal sealing ability of self-adhesive flowable composite resin in Class II composite restoration: An in vitro study

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the marginal sealing ability of self-adhesive flowable composite resin when used as a liner in Class II composite restoration with and without aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 standardized Class II tooth preparations with gingival margins 1 mm coronal and apical to cementenamel junction (CEJ) were prepared on 60 extracted permanent mandibular molars and were randomly divided into eight equal Groups: Group 1: cavities coronal to CEJ and restored with Dyad flow liner + Herculite ultra, Group 2: same as Group 1 but cavities margins apical to CEJ, Group 5: cavities coronal to CEJ and restored with only Herculite ultra, and Group 6: same as Group 5 but cavities apical to CEJ. Groups 3,4,7,8 were similar to Groups 1,2,5,6, respectively, but were aged for 6 months. After thermocycling, microleakage testing was done using 0.5% basic fuchsin dye. RESULT: At cervical level, Group 5 exhibited statistically lower (P = 0.006) microleakage than Group 6, and Group 1 showed lesser microleakage than Group 5 (P = 0.162). Group 2 exhibited significantly less microleakage than Group 6 (P = 0.002). Increased microleakage was observed in aging Groups; however, the difference with nonaging Groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.005). CONCLUSION: Margins of the cavity in cementum can be better sealed by placing self-adhesive liner and is not affected by aging.