effect of chlorhexidine on microleakage of composite

objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of concepsis (a chlorhexidine gluconate based cavity disinfectant) application on composite restorations micro leakage, using two adhesive systems: excite and adhese. materials and methods: in this interventional experimental study, class v cavities were prepared on buccal surfaces of seventy-two extracted bovine incisors. the specimens were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=12): a1: acid eching (ae), excite; a2: ae, concepsis, blot drying, excite; a3: ae, concepsis, water rinsing, excite; b1: ae (only enamel margin), adhese; b2: ae (only enamel margin), concepsis, blot drying, adhese; b3: ae (only enamel margin), concepsis, water ringsing, adhese. afterwards, the cavities were restored with tetric ceram composite, thermo-cycled (5 to 50°c, dwell time: 30s, 1000 cycles,), immersed in 0.5% methylen blue for 24 hours and the dye penetration was evaluated and scored on a scale on 0 to 4 under stereomicroscope (×30). the data were analyzed using kruskal-wallis and multiple comparison tests. results: the only statistically significant difference was found between groups b1 and b2 at both occlusal and gingival margins. (p<0.05) conclusion: rinsing off the cavity disinfectant (concepsis) before the bonding procedure does not affect the seal at the resin-tooth interface when using either of the adhesive systems; however, the sealing ability of adhese seems to be inhibited by the remnants of the disinfecting agent.