In vivo evaluation of marginal leakage of four inlay cements.

Marginal leakage was demonstrated in all the inlays at all time intervals with all cements by the use of the isotope Ca45. Gross marginal leakage was observed in all inlays luted with the cyanoacrylate cement at all time intervals. The setting time of this cement is very short, making it difficult to completely seat the inlay before the cement sets. The results of this study indicate that the cyanoacrylate cement is not a satisfactory luting medium for Class V inlays. Inlays cemented with EBA demonstrated leakage patterns similar to those of inlays seated with polycarboxylate and zinc phosphate cements in the specimens taken at 72 hours. In the 3 month and 6 month specimens, greater marginal leakage was seen with EBA cement than with polycarboxylate and zinc phosphate cements. Leakage patterns associated with polycarboxylate and zinc phosphate cements were very similar at all time intervals. The polycarboxylate and zinc phosphate cements showed less marginal leakage than the other two cements at 3 months and 6 months. The results of this study indicate that inlays cemented with polycarboxylate cement and zinc phosphate cement exhibit significantly less marginal leakage than the cyanoacrylate cement and EBA cement over a 6 month period of time.