Clinical Performance of Two Different Restorative Materials in Restoring Class II Cavities of Primary Molars

Study design:

The study will be two parallel-arm, double blinded randomized, controlled clinical trial with an equal allocation ratio.

Study Setting:

The study will be conducted at Pediatric dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University.

Ethical Considerations:

• The study methodology will be reviewed and approved by the faculty research ethical committee.
• Guardians of children will be asked to sign an informed consent in simple Arabic language before being enrolled in this study. The parents will be assured about confidentiality of all the collected data and were informed that their child has the right to withdraw at any given point during treatment without having to provide reasons for withdrawal.
• Children also will fill a simplified assent form.

Sample Size:

Sample size estimation was based on testing the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the clinical success rates of the two materials by setting α error of 5%, power of 80%, and allocation ratio 1:1. Results from previous studies suggested that the one-year clinical success rate of EQUIA Forte™ in class II restorations in primary molars was 74.4% (24) , while that for Beautifil flow plus x was estimated to be 94.1% based upon the findings of a previous study regarding Giomer in class II cavities. Based on this, the needed sample is 53 primary molars per group. Considering 15% drop-out rate, the needed sample size was increased to 62 molars per group. Sample size calculation was performed using G*Power software version 3.1.9.4 for MS Windows Study Population A total of 124 primary molars fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be restored in eligible participants, with one of the two tested restorative materials.

Study grouping:

The study will include two groups:

Group I (experimental): 62 primary molars will be restored with flowable Giomer beautifil flow plus x Group II (comparator): 62 primary molars will be restored with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (EQUIA Forte)

Randomization and blinding:

Randomization will be performed using the Computer generated random number table to ensure that each primary molar had an equal chance of being assigned to either the glass ionomer group or the giomer group. Randomization will be done by tooth such that participants with multiple eligible carious primary molars were allowed to draw a corresponding number of cards. This trial will be double-blinded such that all participants, the clinical evaluator and the data analyst will be blinded to the type of the applied restorative materials in all periods of the study.

Allocation concealment:

The randomization groups will be written on a paper and each of the papers will be numbered and will be individually packed by another person than the investigator in an opaque envelope after folding each paper eight folds. All participants will be asked to select an opaque sealed envelope for each of their carious primary molars to avoid allocation bias. The numbers in the envelopes determined the group assigned for each molar. The investigator will open the sealed envelope after the cavity preparation and then assigns the treatment group accordingly.

Implementation:

A. Sequence generation will be done by a trial independent subject. B. Recruitment and screening of participants will be done by the main investigator, while enrolling of primary molars for the trial will be decided by two calibrated dentists.

Participants and assessors will be blinded at baseline and follow up. The primary investigator will not be blinded. C. Envelops will be kept with a trial independent subject and the allocated treatment will be revealed after cavity preparation

Study population:

Patients attending the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and dental public health, Faculty of Dentistry, at Ain Shams University for routine dental care will be examined clinically and radiographically with bite-wing radiography. Patients will be assessed for eligibility for participation.

Study Procedure

A detailed case history will be recorded, and an oral examination will be done. Oral prophylaxis will be performed to all the study children before the restorative treatment. A total of 124 primary molars (first/second, maxillary/mandibular) with carious lesions that indicated for restorative treatment will be selected by specified inclusion criteria. Based on the type of restorative material, the teeth will be randomly allocated to two groups (n = 62 in each group) Initial bite-wing radiographs of the teeth to be treated will be taken before the treatment.

Local anesthesia will be applied. Cavity preparations will be performed using diamond burs at high speed with water-cooling. Hand instruments and slow-speed tungsten carbide burs were used to remove the caries. Conservative cavity design will be used and beveling will not applied to the cavity walls to avoid unnecessary loss of hard dental tissue. The outline shape of the cavity will be limited to the removal of caries lesion. Any additional retention will not be prepared. The cavity will be rinsed and then dried with cotton pellets. A metal matrix band and wedges will be applied. Cotton rolls and a saliva ejector will be used for isolation.

Group 1 Giomer; Beautifil flow plus x After caries tissue removal, the cavity will be washed by rubbing wet cotton pellets against its walls to remove debris and remnants of decayed tissue removal. In the presence of the adjacent tooth, a matrix band and a wooden wedge were placed to adapt the restoration. A thin layer of the one-step self-etch adhesive BeautiBond (Shofu Inc) will be applied with a micro applicator and light cured for 10 s. The operator will place the Beautifil-flow plus x in increments creating the desired shape. Each increment will be light-cured for 20 s at each restoration surface. The composite will be used in increments up to 2 mm. An articulation paper will be used to check if there is any interference.

Group 2 Glass-hybrid-added HVGIC; Equia Forte:

The cavity will be conditioned with a poly- acrylic acid 'dentin conditioner' (EQUIA GC, JAPAN) which will be left for 15 seconds according to the manufacturer instructions. The conditioner will later be washed with a water spray, and then rinsing water will be blotted with a dry cotton pellet, leaving a moist surface. Each capsule of high viscous glass ionomer cement will be mixed for 10 seconds using amalgamator according to the manufacturer's instructions then packed into the prepared cavity with a carver and ball burnisher. Any excess material will be removed using a carver. Finally, a thin layer of the Equia Forte Coat ® (GC Corp) will be applied with a micro applicator and then light-cured for 20 s. An articulation paper will be used to check if the restoration caused any occlusal interference.