Clinical and Materials Sciences

The sealing properties of resin-composite resin material applied to acid-etched cavities and adjacent enamel were studied in 40 contralateral tooth pairs. This treatment was found to reduce considerably the risk of ingrowth of microorganisms from the surface of the tooth. The resin material did not have any appreciable irritative effect on the pulp; the same was true for the etching procedure. Etching of lateral enamel walls and margins with an acid gel after the application of a liner on dentinal walls was considered to be the procedure recommended before the application of the combination of unfilled resin and composite resin.