Journal of Dental Research, Vol 60, 1861-1866, Copyright © 1981 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The effects of cavity smear layer removal on experimental marginal leakage around amalgam restorations
A. Jodaikin and J. C. Austin
Unvarnished freshly-packed dental amalgam restorations leak initially.
However, with time, a marginal seal is usually effected. It is not known
whether the smear layer which forms during cavity preparation is associated
with this leakage pattern. This study was undertaken to evaluate
experimental marginal leakage around amalgam restorations (left in situ for
one and 12 wk) which had been placed in cavities prepared with and without
removal of the smear layer in vital and devitalized teeth. The cavities
were obturated with two types of dental amalgams, a conventional and a
dispersed-phase amalgam. The excised teeth restorations were subjected to a
fluorescent dye marginal leakage experiment. All of the short-term
specimens leaked severely, but some of the long-term specimens displayed
significant sealing properties. No significant differences were found
between the two types of amalgams. However, the non-vital tooth specimens
and cavities without smear layers displayed significantly improved sealing
properties.
