Theoretical prediction of dental composites yield stress and flexural modulus based on filler volume ratio

Experimental Investigation of Dental Composites Degradation After Early Water Exposure

While dental composite long-term aging has already been studied in the past, no data exist about the early aging while it might be detrimental regarding the composites' longevity. This study aims to better understand the effects of early water exposure on dental composites. Dental resin composites with different fillers ratio were subjected to water exposure during 24 h, 1 week, or 1 month. After photopolymerization, the samples were stored at different conditions, whether in wet or dry condition (W, D, respectively) and in wet conditions after a first 24 h storage in dry conditions (DW). Three-point bending tests were performed to measure the flexural modulus. The samples were then subjected to a sorption/desorption protocol. While the matrix alone did not undergo any mechanical degradation with exposure time, the composites matrices presented a decrease in elastic modulus. This decrease was the highest for the matrix with nonsilanized fillers. Interestingly, the DW condition was detrimental for all the samples. Regarding the sample with nonsilanized fillers in DW for 1 month presented an elastic modulus lower than the matrix alone. These results were assigned to the sorption capacity of the polymer matrix, suggesting that the diffusion mechanisms and the nature of water molecules are determinant in the composite degradation. This study showed that dental composite early degradation mechanisms after water exposure are involved in the polymer matrix postpolymerization process as soon as after 24 h. Such mechanisms are detrimental in terms of the dental composite efficiency and have to be understood.

The impact of the diode laser 940 nm photoactivated bleaching on color change of different composite resin restorations

The study's main objective was to evaluate as well as compare the impact of diode laser 940 nm and conventional in-office bleaching technique on the color change of different composite resin restorations. A total of ninety composite resin discs (CRDs) were made from Filtek™ Bulk Fill, nanohybrid composite resin Filtek™ Z550 XT Universal Restorative, and flowable composite resin restoration Filtek™ Z350xt Flowable Composite. Group A: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Bulk Fill, group B: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Z550 XT Universal Restorative, and group C: (30) CRD for Filtek™ Z350xt Flowable Composite. A1, B1, and C1: (10 CRD in each group): Control group without bleaching. A2, B2, and C2: 10 CRD in each group bleached with Laser White20 without laser activation. A3, B3, and C3: 10 CRD in each group bleached with Laser White20 and activated by diode laser 940 nm. The color was evaluated using a dental spectrophotometer. One-way ANOVA was utilized for the comparison of the color stability of the CRD. P < 0.05 is regarded as statically significant. Both conventional and diode laser in-office vital tooth bleaching protocols affected the color stability of composite resin restorations. The result demonstrated that bleaching without laser activation produced color change (mean [8.30], standard deviation [SD] (1.95) P [< 0.001]), whereas the bleaching and activation by diode laser produced color change (mean [8.11], SD [1.99], P [< 0.001]). Both types of bleaching protocol affected composite resin restorations' color stability. In all tested materials, color changes after the bleaching protocol were clinically perceptible. The restorations following the bleaching procedure are required to be replaced by clinicians.

Comparison of physical and biological properties of a flowable fiber reinforced and bulk filling composites

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate in vitro the mechanical, biological, and polymerization behavior of a flowable bulk-fill composite with fibers as a dispersed phase.

METHODS

EverX Flow™ (GC Corporation) (EXF), one conventional bulk-fill composite (Filtek™ Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative, 3 M (FBF)), and one flowable bulk composite without fibers (SDR® flow+, Dentsply (SDR)) were tested. Samples were characterized in terms of flexural strength (ISO 4049), fracture toughness (ISO 20795-1), and Vickers hardness. Polymerization stress and volumetric shrinkage were evaluated. The in vitro biological assessment was achieved on cultured primary Human Gingival Fibroblast cells (HGF). The cell metabolic activity was evaluated using Alamar Blue assay at 1, 3, and 5 days of contact to the 3 tested composite extracts (ISO 10993) and cell morphology was evaluated by confocal microscopy. Data were submitted to One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

FBF showed statistically higher Vickers hardness and flexural modulus than EXF and SDR. However, EXF showed statistically higher K_IC than FBF and SDR. EXF had the statistically highest shrinkage stress values and FBF the lowest. Archimedes volumetric shrinkage showed significantly lower values for FBF as compared to the other two composites. Slight cytotoxic effect was observed for the three composites at day one. An enhancement of metabolic activity at day 5 was observed in cells treated with EXF extracts.

SIGNIFICANCE

EXF had a significantly higher fracture toughness validating its potential use as a restorative material in stress bearing areas. EXF showed higher shrinkage stress values, and less cytotoxic effect. Fiber reinforced flowable composite is mainly indicated for deep and large cavities, signifying the importance for assessing its shrinkage stress and biological behavior.

Development of a novel resin for provisional prostheses using hyperbranched polyurethane acrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate - An in vitro study

PURPOSE

To develop a novel resin for provisional prostheses using hyperbranched polyurethane acrylate (HBPUA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) with promising mechanical properties and low volumetric shrinkage.

METHODS

Four groups including TIH3-0 (100 wt% TEGDMA), TIH3-30 (30 wt% HBPUA + 70 wt% TEGDMA), TIH3-60 (60 wt% HBPUA + 40 wt% TEGDMA), and TB-60 (60 wt% bisphenol A-glycidyl dimethacrylate + 40 wt% TEGDMA) were prepared and commercial Luxatemp (DMG) was used for comparison. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography were used for material characterization. Mechanical properties including microhardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and load energy were measured before and after water immersion. Physical properties measurement included weight changes, solubility, water absorption, surface hydrophobicity, and volumetric shrinkage. Finally, biocompatibility was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay.

RESULTS

The number- and weight-average molecular weights of the HBPUA were approximately 870 and 1480, respectively. The addition of HBPUA to TEGDMA increased the mechanical strength considerably. Although the weight changes and water absorption of TIH3-60 were higher than those of Luxatemp, the microhardness, flexural strength, flexural modulus, load energy, solubility, shrinkage, and biocompatibility of TIH3-60 were either comparable or superior to those of Luxatemp.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of the present study, TIH3-60 has potential for development as a new provisional material.

The effect of micro-mechanical signatures of constituent phases in modern dental restorative materials on their macro-mechanical property: A statistical nanoindentation approach

This study utilized a statistical nanoindentation analysis technique (SNT) to measure the amount of organic and inorganic constituents of twenty different brands of dental resin-based composites (RBCs) and tested whether their macro-property such as flexural modulus could be approximated by the proportions of constituents' micromechanical signatures using various rules of mixtures. The probability density function (PDF) of constitutive moduli per RBC brand were measured for three groups, comprised of different indent arrays and inter-indent spacings. SNT was then applied to deconvolute each PDF, from which the effective filler (μ^F) and matrix (μ^M) moduli and filler (V^F) and matrix (V^M) volume fractions per RBC brand were computed. V^F and V^M values obtained via SNT were strongly correlated with V^F and V^M obtained via Thermogravimetric Analysis and Archimedes method. The "observed" flexural modulus (E_c^FS) measured under macro-experiment were well associated with "predicted" effective modulus (E_c^Eff) measured under nano-experiment, thereby establishing that global modulus was strongly affected by the constituents' micromechanics. However, the "predicted" E_c^Eff were proportionally higher than the "observed" E_c^FS. V^F was a confounder to E_c^FS and E_c^Eff, whereby the influence of V^F on both modular ratios (E_c^FS/μ^M and E_c^Eff/μ^M) was best modeled by an exponential regression.

A numerical, theoretical and experimental study of the effect of thermocycling on the matrix-filler interface of dental restorative materials

OBJECTIVE

Thermocycling is widely used to age dental composites but with very different results from one study to another, even with apparent similar conditions. This study aims at understanding better the relative damaging speed of matrix and fillers, based on theoretical models.

METHODS

Eight formulations of an experimental dental material were produced. The same organic matrix was used and silanated barium glass particles were added as fillers with different filler ratios. Samples were thermocycled up to 10 000 cycles. Three-point bending tests were carried out at different steps. The yield stress was measured among other mechanical properties.

RESULTS

Composite properties were degraded by thermocycling. The decrease was slight during the first 5 000 cycles whereas it decreased significantly after 10 000 cycles. The Turcsányi model asserts that the interface yield stress is slightly affected in the first 5 000 cycles and then falls down, while the decrease of matrix yield stress is linear.

SIGNIFICANCE

Each component of a composite does not age at the same rate. First, the matrix acts as a protector until the water finds its way to the interphase. The filler silanization treatment is highly sensitive to hydrolysis and is damaged rapidly from that moment. Numerical simulations and surface observations confirmed that cracks appear to propagate in the neighbourhood of the interface but not directly within it.