Objectives: This in vitro study evaluated the sealing ability of dentin adhesives and a desensitizer.
Methods: Standardized Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 55 freshly extracted human molars. The teeth were cut into two sections in a mesio-distal direction. All specimens were randomly divided into 11 groups (n = 10). In each group, the cavities were treated with one of eight different dentin adhesives, a dentin desensitizer or a special combination of these, except for the control group. After all the cavities had been stained for 24 hours with 0.5% methlyene blue solution, the teeth were longitudinally cut into two sections through the center of the cavities. Dye penetration was recorded according to the stained areas. Epoxy resin replicas of two specimens per group were analyzed by SEM.
Results: All dentin adhesives/desensitizer significantly reduced dentinal permeability (p < 0.05). The sealing ability of the different dentin adhesives/desensitizer was significantly different (p < 0.001). The degree of dye penetration corresponded well with the surface morphology of the dentin surfaces after the various treatments.
Conclusions: None of the dentin adhesives/desensitizer could completely block fluid percolation through the dentinal tubules, but current dentin adhesives/desensitizers can significantly reduce dentin permeability.