Comparative evaluation of microleakage and shear bond strength of resin modified glass ionomer cement and light cure composite to dentine treated with silver diamine fluoride and potassium iodide- an in vitro study

This in-vitro study evaluated the microleakage and shear bond strength (SBS) of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement (RMGIC) and light-cured composite restorations on dentin pretreated with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and Potassium Iodide (KI), aiming to guide restorative choices in pediatric dentistry. Ninety-six extracted premolars were divided into two main groups for microleakage and SBS testing, each further subdivided into treated and untreated subgroups. Microleakage was assessed using dye penetration in Class V cavities, and SBS was measured using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) after thermocycling. Results revealed composites generally exhibited superior bond strength and lower microleakage compared to RMGIC. Notably, SDF/KI pretreatment improved RMGIC’s sealing ability but reduced its bond strength. These findings highlight the clinical relevance of material selection, particularly in cases requiring minimally invasive or pediatric restorative approaches.