The effect of collagen removal and the use of a low-viscosity resin liner on marginal adaptation of resin composite restorations with margins in dentin.

TLDR: This study evaluated the influence of collagen removal and the use of a low-viscosity liner on the marginal quality of composite restorations for the total-etch system, Prime & Bond 2.1 and the self-etching primer system, Clearfil SE Bond, in high C-factor cavities with margins in dentin.

Abstract: This study evaluated the influence of collagen removal and the use of a low-viscosity liner on the marginal quality of composite restorations for the total-etch system, Prime & Bond 2.1 (PB) and the self-etching primer system, Clearfil SE Bond (CSEB), in high C-factor cavities with margins in dentin. High C-factor cavities were made on dentin exposed from ground labial surfaces of 100 bovine lower incisors, randomly assigned to 10 treatment groups and restored with composite Z 250, placed in bulk. In Group 1 (PB), control group, PB was applied according to the manufacturer's directions; in Group 2 (PB/PLF), an intermediate layer of low-viscosity composite Protect Liner F (PLF) was applied on the bonding resin surface; in Group 3 (PB/SH) following acid-etching, the surfaces were treated with 10% sodium hypochlorite (SH) for one minute and in Group 4 (PB/SH/PLF), the same procedure was conducted as for Group 3, plus an intermediate layer of PLF was applied as for Group 2. In Group 5 (CSEB), the control group, CSEB was applied according to the manufacturer's directions; in Group 6 (CSEB/PLF), an intermediate layer of PLF was applied; in Group 7 (SH/CSEB), the cavity surface was pre-treated with SH; in Group 8 (SH/CSEB/PLF), SH pre-treatment was conducted as for Group 7, then an intermediate layer of PLF was applied; in Group 9 (CSEB/SH), after CSEB-primer application, the surface was treated with SH, followed by CSEB-adhesive application and in Group 10 (CSEB/SH/PLF), the same was conducted as for Group 9, then an intermediate layer of PLF was applied. The specimens were stored at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, polished, molded and replicas were obtained in epoxy resin. The replicas were gold-sputter coated and observed by SEM (300x) for marginal quality classification. The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametrical multi-comparison Test (p<0.05) was used to obtain statistical analysis of the data. Results demonstrated that both adhesive systems in the control groups presented low marginal quality and a high variability. The use of an intermediate layer of PLF significantly improved the marginal quality with the CSEB system but had no effect with the PB system. Collagen depletion with SH enhanced marginal quality for the PB system and did not influence the CSEB system results.