Statement of the Problem:  Several techniques are proposed for the restoration of Class V cavities but there is no agreement in the literature as to which technique is more effective.

Purpose:  To evaluate the effect of different techniques of composite increment placement on the marginal adaptation of Class V restorations.

Methods and Materials:  Twenty-four human molars were selected and prepared with standardized saucer-shaped cavity dimensions of 3.0 mm (occlusal-gingival), 2.0 mm (mesial-distal), and 2.0 mm (depth).  The margins are in reference to the cemento-enamel junction with 1.5 mm being located on enamel and 1.5 mm on dentin.  The cavities were randomly assigned into three groups (n=8) and restored with composites as follows:  Group 1, the occlusal increment was placed and cured first followed by the gingival increment; Group 2, the gingival increment was placed and cured first followed by the occlusal increment; and Group 3, the cavities were restored with one bulk increment.  Restorations were immediately finished and stored for 24 h in tap water.  Specimens were subjected to thermocycling (1000 cycles, 5°C to 55°C, 30 s dwell time) and immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsin solution for 24 h in room temperature.  After rinsing with running water, the restorations were sectioned longitudinally and enamel and dentin margins were evaluated and scored according to the microleakage on a 0-3 scale.  Data were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis test at p<0.05.

Results:  Median of microleakage scores for all evaluated groups was zero.  No statistical difference was observed among the three groups both in enamel (p = 0.5929) and dentin (p = 0.3679) margins

Conclusion:  The placement technique did not influence the marginal adaptation of moderate Class V restorations.

Clinical Significance:  No differences on marginal adaptation were observed when restoring conservative Class V cavities using incremental or bulk placement techniques.

Keywords:  Marginal adaptation, Class V composite restorations, placement techniques

Citation:   Sensi LG, Marson FC, Baratieri LN, Junior SM.  Effect of Placement Techniques on the Marginal Adaptation of Class V Composite Restorations.  J Contemp Dent Pract 2005 November;(6)4:017-025.