The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of surface sealing materials on microleakage and surface roughness in Class V composite restorations.

Twenty five standardized Class V cavity preparations were made on the facial surface of human premolars and were randomly assigned to 5 groups. The teeth were restored with Z-250 after applying Single Bond. Following 7 days storage in distilled water at 37℃, the restorations were sealed as following systems : No sealing ; Single Bond Adhesive ; Biscover ; Fortify ; Optiguard. Then, toothbrush abrasion test was conducted using a wear testing machine.

Surface roughness was measured by means of profilometer before and after toothbrushing and the results were statistically analysed by using a paired t-test and ANOVA. The bonded interfaces and the changes of surface roughness were examined by SEM.

For microleakage test, specimens were stained in a 2% methylene blue solution, then longitudinally sectioned and analyzed for leakage at occlusal and cervical interfaces using stereomicroscope. The results were statistically analysed by using a Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test.

Surface roughness was increasing in all groups after toothbrushing, but no statistically significant differences. In SEM observation, surface sealant was partially retained and partially detached in bonded interfaces. Especially, microgap was identified in cervical margins. In microleakage test, there was better seal in the enamel region and a significant difference between groups at occlusal margin. Control group and Single Bond group had significantly better marginal seal at enamel margin than cervical margin.

Extracellular single unit recordings were made from the ventral posteromedial thalamic (VPM) nociceptive neurons to determine mechanoreceptive field (RF) and response properties. A total of 44 VPM thalamic nociceptive neurons were isolated from rats anesthetized with urethane-chloralose.

Based on responses to various mechanical stimuli including touch, pressure and pinch applied to the RF, 32 of 44 neurons were classified as nociceptive specific (NS) neuron. The other 12 neurons, classified as wide dynamic range (WDR), showed a graded response to increasingly intense stimuli, with a maximum discharge to noxious pinch.

The VPM nociceptive neurons showed various spontaneous activity ranged from 0-6 Hz. They were located throughout the VPM, and had an contralateral RF including mainly intraoral (and perioral) regions. The RF size was relatively small, and very few neurons had a receptive field involving 3 trigeminal divisions. The NS neurons activated only by pressure and pinch stimuli had high mechanical thresholds compared to WDR neurons activated also by touch stimuli. The VPM nociceptive neurons were tested with suprathershold graded mechanical stimuli. Most of 21 NS and 8 WDR neurons showed a progressive increase in number of spikes as mechanical stimulus intensity was increased. In some neurons, the responses reached a peak before the highest intensity was given. Application of 5 mM CoCl₂ (10 µl) solution to the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis did not produce any significant changes in the spontaneous activity, RF size, mechanical threshold, and response to suprathresold mechanical stimuli of 9 VPM nociceptive neurons tested.

17 of 33 VPM nociceptive neurons responded to noxious heat as well as noxious mechanical stimuli applied to their RF. Application of the mustard oil, a small-fiber excitant and inflammatory irritant, to the right maxillary first molar tooth pulp induced an immediate but short-lasting neuronal discharges upto approximately 4 min in 16 of 42 VPM nociceptive neurons.

These results suggest that VPM thalamic nucleus may contribute to the sensory discriminative aspect of orofacial nociception.