Coronal Microleakage of Three Temporary Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Study

The sealing properties of three temporary restorative materials, Cavit, IRM, and a polycarboxylate-based cement, Ultratemp Firm, were investigated in vitro. Standardized access cavities were prepared in 45, intact, extracted, human molars. The teeth were randomly assigned to three groups and the access openings filled with one of three temporary filling materials. In five teeth (negative control), no restorative material was placed but the preparations were coated entirely with sticky wax. The five teeth of the positive control group had no restorative material and no sticky wax applied. After thermocycling for 500 cycles (5–55°C), the experimental teeth were dipped in molten sticky wax to the CEJ. The coronal enamel was subsequently coated with two layers of nail varnish, leaving an area of 1 mm around the filling material uncovered. The samples were then immersed in 2% methylene blue dye solution for leakage assessment. The teeth were sectioned and the greatest depth of dye penetration was recorded. Positive control sections exhibited complete dye penetration, whereas negative controls had none. There was no statistically significant difference in marginal leakage between Cavit, IRM, and Ultratemp Firm (p > 0.05). All materials leaked at the interface material-dentin, whereas some IRM specimens absorbed the dye into the bulk of the material.