A COMPARISON OF THREE DIFFERENT BULK- FILL COMPOSITES WITH REGARD TO MARGINAL INTEGRITY: AN IN VITRO DYE LEAKAGE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the microleakage with three different bulk fill composite restorative materials in proximal restorations.
Materials and Methods: Class II proximal cavities in 150 mandibular molars were divided into 3 groups of 50 each and restored with Filtek composite resin in Group 1,Tetric N‑Ceram Bulk Fill in Group2 and Estelite Bulk Fill composite in Group 3. After completing the restorative procedure for all the cavities, teeth were immersed in 2% aqueous methylene blue dye for 24 hours at room temperature. After taking out from dye, each tooth was sectioned mesio-distally through the centre to cut it in two equal halves and dye leakage at the tooth restorative interface was measured using stereomicroscope.
Results: Tetric N ceram bulk fill showed the least microleakage while the Filtek composite resin and Estelite Bulk Fill composite showed the highest.
Conclusion: Of the three bulk fill composites , Tetric N ceram bulk fill showed good bonding to the enamel and dentin  and thus can be used in deep Cl-II cavities with maximum of 4mm bulk increment.
Keywords: bulk- fill composites, microleakage, dye leakage.