The microleakage behavior of two hybrid glass ionomer cements used as restorative materials (Variglass/Caulk Dentsply and Vitremer/3M) was compared. Separate class II cavities were prepared on the mesial and distal aspects of thirteen extracted premolars. One restoration of each material was placed on every tooth. The cervical margins of the restorations were left one millimeter below the cementoenamel junction. Thermocycling was conduced in a 0.5% basic fuchsin solution. The teeth were washed and sectioned for microleakage analysis under a dissecting microscope. None of the materials tested were able to inhibit dye penetration at the cervical margin. Vitremer/3M was more effective than Variglass/Caulk Dentsply in reducing microleakage.
Dental cements; Glass ionomer cements; Microleakage
