RESUMEN
CONTEXT: In-vitro studies of microleakage are an initial screening method to assess the maximum theoretical loss of sealing ability in-vivo. AIMS: Our objective was to determine and compare microleakage patterns of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) and resin-modified GIC (RMGIC) for band cementation. METHODS: Forty caries-free second primary molars were randomly divided into two groups of 20 teeth each. Preformed molar bands in the two groups were cemented to enamel with one of two types of cement: Conventional GIC (Fuji I, GC Corporation; Tokyo, Japan) and RMGIC (Fuji Plus, GC Corporation; Tokyo, Japan). A dye penetration method was used for microleakage evaluation. Microleakage was determined by a stereomicroscope for the cement-band and cement-enamel interfaces. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was performed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The mean microleakage value for conventional GIC (Fuji I) at cement-band and cement-enamel interfaces was 2.41 mm and 2.15 mm, respectively. The mean microleakage value for RMGIC (Fuji Plus) at cement-band and cement-enamel interfaces was 0.44 mm and 0.46 mm, respectively. Compared to conventional GIC, RMGIC showed less microleakage at both cement-band and cement-enamel interfaces. P < 0.001 and it was statistically highly significant. CONCLUSIONS: Bands cemented with RMGIC had significantly less microleakage between the cement-band and cement-enamel interfaces than conventional GIC.