
Evaluation of Marginal Leakage of Composite Resin Restoration in Cervical Cavities Prepared by Conventional Method versus Er,Cr:YSGG Laser: An In-vitro Stereomicroscope Analysis
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Snigdho Das,
Consultant Dental Surgeon, Department of Dentistry, Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Matri Bhavan and Hospital, Kolkata-700026, West Bengal, India.
E-mail: snigdho1991@gmail.com
Introduction: Modern dentistry emphasises minimally invasive techniques, with Erbium, Chromium-doped yttrium scandium gallium garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) lasers gaining popularity for hard and soft tissue preparation. These lasers offer advantages such as smear layer removal and surface modifications that enhance restorative material retention. However, their efficacy in minimising marginal leakage in composite restorations remains underexplored, especially when combined with acid etching. Understanding these effects is critical to advancing minimally invasive restorative techniques.
Aim: To evaluate the marginal leakage of composite resin restorations in cervical cavities prepared by conventional methods and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers.
Materials and Methods: This in-vitro experimental study was conducted in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics at Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, from October 2008 to February 2010. Total 45 freshly extracted, caries-free, and restoration-free permanent human molars were selected as the study sample. The primary inclusion criteria included teeth with intact cervical regions and no prior restorations or decay. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups of 15 each. Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal or lingual surfaces of the teeth, with occlusal margins in enamel and gingival margins in dentin or cementum. Group I cavities were prepared using a tungsten carbide bur and restored after acid etching. Group II cavities were prepared with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser and restored without acid etching, while Group III cavities were laser-prepared and restored after acid etching. All cavities were restored using composite resin following the application of an adhesive system. The samples were stored in distilled water, thermocycled, and immersed in a 2% methylene blue solution to assess microleakage. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test, with the significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: The distribution of microleakage scores showed a statistically significant association (p=0.004). Group II cavities exhibited the highest leakage, whereas the group III sample had the lowest. The power analysis demonstrated an achieved power of 87%, confirming that the sample size was adequate.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that while laser preparation alone may result in higher leakage, combining laser preparation with acid etching significantly reduces microleakage, achieving outcomes that are comparably better than those of conventional bur-prepared cavities with acid etching. These results emphasise the potential of combining laser technology with acid etching for improved restorative outcomes.
Composite resins, Cavity preparation techniques, Dental leakage, Erbium chromium-doped yttrium scandium gallium garnet laser, Phosphoric acid
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2025/75730.21089
Date of Submission: Sep 20, 2024
Date of Peer Review: Dec 09, 2024
Date of Acceptance: Feb 15, 2025
Date of Publishing: Jun 01, 2025
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
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