Comparative Assessment of Structural Integrity and Operational Time Taken for Class I Composite Restoration Using Stamp Technique versus Conventional Layering Technique: An In vitro Study

Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare structural integrity and operational time taken for Class I composite restoration using Stamp technique versus conventional layering technique. Settings and Design: This in vitro study was conducted at the department of conservative dentistry and endodontics. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four extracted mandibular molars were mounted on wax blocks with standardized Class I cavities and randomly distributed into two groups of 12 each. Teeth in Group I (experimental) were restored using the Stamp Technique. The samples of Group II (control) were restored using the conventional composite layering technique. Microleakage, marginal adaptation, and voids in the restoration were assessed by the Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, and operative time taken for restoration was recorded on stopwatch. Results: Values for microleakage (Group I and Group II was 0.93 ± 40.93 and 1.38 ± 0.73 respectively), marginal adaptation (Group I and Group II was 12.46 ± 4.77 and 15.21 ± 7.21, respectively) and voids between the two groups were insignificant. However, the time required for restoration and finishing (Group I and Group II was 783.08 ± 69.67 and 1120.75 ± 164.41, respectively) was statistically significant ( P < 0.001) in the restorations done with stamp technique. Conclusions: The stamp technique for composite restoration accurately replicates the anatomical contours of the restored tooth in significantly less time compared to the conventional technique; without affecting microleakage, marginal adaptation, and voids.