Comparative evaluation of microleakage of silorane-based composite and nanohybrid composite with or without polyethylene fiber inserts in class II restorations: an in vitro study.

AIM: To evaluate microleakage between nanocomposite and silorane composite in class II restorations with or without a polyethylene fiber insert.

METHODOLOGY: Standardized class II cavities were prepared on extracted molars and randomly divided into 4 groups (n=20 each): group 1, Ceram X mono; group 2, Ceram X mono + Ribbond; group 3, Filtek P90; and Group 4, Filtek P90 + Ribbond. All specimens were subjected to a thermocycling regime, immersed in 2% methylene blue dye for 24 hours, sectioned longitudinally, and examined under a stereomicroscope to assess dye penetration on a six-point scale. The score data were subjected to statistical analysis whereby Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was used for multiple group comparisons and the Mann-Whitney test for groupwise comparisons at a significance level of p≤0.05.

RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in microleakage was found when Ribbond fiber was used with nanoceramic and silorane composite. A highly significant decrease in microleakage scores was found in silorane composite when compared to nanoceramic composite.

CONCLUSION: Use of polyethylene fiber and silorane composite reduces microleakage in class II composite restorations with gingival margins below the cemento-enamel junction.