Relationship between bond strength and microleakage measured in the same Class I restorations

Microleakage measurements were made by use of a pressurized fluid method in Class I restorations prepared in extracted human teeth just prior to measuring the tensile bond strengths of the same restorations. The restorative materials included dentin bonding systems that are applied to smear layers as well as those which remove the smear layer. A light-cured glass-ionomer cement was also included. The results demonstrated that there was an inverse relationship between dentin bond strength and microleakage in some materials and that the bond strengths made to three-dimensional Class I cavities were much lower than those made to flat dentin surfaces. Measurement of microleakage by fluid filtration had no apparent effect on bond strength.