Effect of occlusal loading on microleakage of wedge-shaped abfraction-like cavities restored with three different esthetic restorative materials

Introduction Noncarious cervical lesions are a very common occurrence in clinics. They also represent one of the less durable types of restorations and have a high index of loss of retention, marginal excess, and secondary caries. Aim of the study Considering the aspects related to abfraction and the materials frequently used in its restoration, we conducted an in-vitro study to investigate the relationship between occlusal loading and the microleakage of cervical wedge-shaped esthetic restorations. Materials and methods Sixty wedge-shaped cavities in extracted upper premolars were divided into three groups (n=20). Group I was restored with GrandioFlow, group II was restored with Compoglass F, and group III was restored with PhotacFil Quick Aplicap. Half of the specimens from each group were subjected to occlusal loading (2 kg for 5 min at a rate of 120 cycles/min for 600 cycles) on the buccal cusp, and the other half were used as controls without loading. All teeth were then thermocycled. The teeth were water-sealed and immersed in methylene blue solution for 3 h. The samples were cut buccolingually and the leakage scores were assessed for all groups at the occlusal and cervical walls using a steriomicroscope. Results There was no significant difference between loaded and unloaded tested restorations neither at the occlusal nor at the cervical margin. Conclusion Occlusal loading did not have an effect on the margins of cervical abfraction-like lesions.