Evaluation of leakage of fast setting cements used to restore teeth

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the marginal adaptation and material porosity to micro-organisms of prototype restorative dental materials using two microscopy techniques. Three fast-setting cements based on Portland cement, two cement composites and a dental material were used to restore human extracted teeth. The leakage to micro-organisms was evaluated by assessing leakage to dyes using both confocal and environmental electron microscope after immersion in rhodamine B dye for 24 h and longitudinal splitting of the tooth. The use of dye simulated the leakage of the system to micro-organisms present in the human mouth. The cements showed material porosity but no leakage was observed at the tooth cavity margins. The cement composites were more stable with less dye taken up by the material in comparison with the respective neat cement. Restorations made up of the dental material showed marginal leakage along their walls and along the restoration floor. The prototype cements showed a susceptibility to take up dye through the material rather than at the tooth to material interface. The dental material exhibited mostly marginal leakage. The expansive cement showed the highest amount of leakage. The two methods of evaluation showed contrasting results mostly evident when testing the dental cement.