Comparison of microleakage properties of three different filling materials. An autoradiographic study

The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage behaviour of three restorative materials using the autoradiographic method. The study was accomplished in vitro using freshly extracted human molars and a Ca45 radioisotope and autoradiography. Twenty-seven molar teeth were divided into three experimental groups of seven specimens each. Class II cavities were prepared at the mesioocclusal aspect and restored with amalgam and two different composite resins. The restorations were finished, thermocycled and tested for microleakage, using the Ca45 radioisotope. The results were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis test. Amalgam exhibited more leakage compared with composite resins. However the differences among the leakage behaviours of three filling materials were not statistically significant (P = 0.064).