ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effect of different conditioning methods on micro-leakage in primary teeth. Fifty-one cervical cavities were prepared on the twenty-six extracted primary molars and divided randomly into five groups. In Group I and IV phosphoric acid, in group 11 non-rinse conditioner (NRC) was applied. In group III and V no pretreatment was used. Groups I-III were restored with Prime & Bond NT and Dyract AP and Group IV-V restored with Syntac SC and Compoglass F. The restored teeth were stored for 24 hours in distilled water at 37 degrees C, immersed in 0.5 percent basic fuchsin for 24 hours. Dye penetration was determined using a stereomicroscope. The results revealed that although enamel microleakage was not affected by the conditioning method used in both restorative materials, pretreating the cavity with phosphoric acid had a positive effect on reducing the dentin microleakage compared with conditioning by NRC.