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We studied the thermal properties of cavity liners that included calcium phosphate as inorganic filler, in contrast to the conventional pulp capping agents. Therefore, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity were measured. In addition, thermal conductivity results were compared with those of restorative materials and human dentin to examine thermal insulation effects. The thermal conductivity of cavity liners ranged from 0.23 to 0.28 W m(-1) K(-1), and that of pulp capping agents ranged from 0.44 to 0.48 W m(-1) K(-1). Test results indicated that the thermal conductivity of cavity liner was lower than those of human dentin, pulp capping agent, cast alloy, and composite resin for restoration, hence suggesting that cavity liner has a good thermal insulation effect.

A comparison using various composite resins and placement techniques is made of the margin quality and isotope microleakage of Class II composite resin restorations placed in extracted molars. Margin quality and isotope microleakage analyses of Class II restorations placed in extracted human molars were compared using various composite resins and placement techniques. At occlusal margins, the traditional (experimental) composite resin restoration placed by the incremental technique showed less microleakage than did the experimental (commercial) composite resin restoration placed by the bulk technique. In each group, the occlusal and proximal adaptations had significantly higher “excellent margin” than did the cervical adaptation. Thus, the marginal adaptation at the cervical aspect of conventional Class II composite resin restorations may present a problem with respect to microleakage.