ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Advances in laboratory composites and their high wear resistance and fracture toughness have resulted in their growing popularity and increasing use for dental restorations. This study sought to assess the fracture toughness of three indirect composites bonded to dental substrate and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polymer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vitro study was conducted on two groups of dental and polymer substrates. Each substrate was bonded to three indirect composite resins. Sixty blocks (3 × 3 × 12 mm) were made of sound bovine anterior teeth and PEEK polymer. Sixty blocks (3 × 3 × 12 mm) were fabricated of CRIOS (Coltene, Germany), high impact polymer composite (HIPC; Bredent, Germany), and GRADIA (Indirect; GC, Japan) composite resins. Composites were bonded to dentin using Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray, Japan). For bonding to PEEK, Combo.lign (Bredent) and Visio.Link (Bredent) luting cements were used. In all samples, a single-edge notch was created by a no. 11 surgical blade at the interface. The samples were subjected to 3,500 thermal cycles, and their fracture toughness was measured in a universal testing machine (Zwick/Roell, Germany) by application of four-point flexural load. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTS: The fracture toughness of CRIOS-PEEK interface was significantly higher than HIPC-PEEK. The fracture toughness of GRADIA-PEEK was not significantly different from that of HIPC and CRIOS. The fracture toughness of GRADIA-dentin was significantly higher than HIPC-dentin. CONCLUSION: Considering the limitations of this study, GRADIA has the highest bond strength to dentin, while CRIOS shows the highest bond strength to PEEK.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The advantages of indirect composite restorations such as less crack formation during their computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing process, compared with ceramic restorations, have resulted in their growing popularity. However, restoration failure is a major concern with regard to the long-term clinical success of restorations and may occur as the result of propagation of a crack originated from an internal flaw in the restoration. This study aimed to compare the fracture toughness of three indirect composite resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro experimental study, 10 specimens measuring 3 × 3 × 18 mm were fabricated of Gradia, Crios, and high impact polymer composite indirect composites. A single edge notch with a diameter < 0.3 mm and 0.3 mm length was created in the 9 mm longitudinal dimension of specimens using a no. 11 surgical scalpel. The specimens were then subjected to 4-point flexural strength test in a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 0.1 mm/s until failure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD (honestly significant difference) test. The statistical power was set at p Ë 0.05. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA showed a significant difference in fracture toughness of the three composite groups (p = 0.000). According to the Tukey HSD analysis, the fracture toughness of HIPC was significantly higher than that of the other two composites. The fracture toughness of Gradia was significantly lower among all. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the results showed that high temperature-pressure polymerization can increase resistance to crack propagation and subsequently improve the clinical service of indirect composite restorations. Although we do not know the filler volume percentage of HIPC, it seems that filler volume percentage of the composite is inversely correlated with fracture toughness.