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Composite Marginal Seal — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateRestorative DentistryComposite Marginal SealNDEB AFK

Which of the following restorative materials has the best marginal seal immediately after placement?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: DComposite resin with total-etch bonding

Composite resin bonded with a total-etch adhesive system provides the best initial marginal seal of any direct restorative material due to micromechanical bonding to etched enamel (resin tags) and hybrid layer formation in dentin. Amalgam has no adhesion to tooth structure and initial marginal gaps that only seal over time through corrosion product accumulation. GIC provides chemical adhesion but with lower initial bond strength. Gold inlays are cemented with a luting agent and rely on the cement seal.

Reference: Heymann – Sturdevant's Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, 7th ed., 2019