Effect of a Resin Coating Material on the Microleakage of Class V Restorations With or Without Post-Operative Bleaching

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a resin coating material on the microleakage of Class V composite resin restorations with and without post-operative bleaching. Material and Methods: Eighty class V cavities (3×3×1.5 mm) were prepared and filled with Z250 XT composite resin in the buccal and lingual surfaces of 40 sound human molars. Then the samples were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=20) and treated as follows: Group A: applying a resin coating (G-Coat Plus) on the restoration, then bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide; Group B: Post-Operative bleaching without prior use of resin coating; Group C: applying resin coating agent, and no further bleaching; and Group D: no resin coating, no bleaching. The specimens were thermocycled and immersed in 1% methylene blue for 24 hours, then cut into sections bucco-lingually. The samples were scored regarding the amount of dye penetration under a stereomicroscope (x20). Data were analyzed with Chi-squared and Fisher exact tests (p