Microporosity and polymerization contraction as function of depth in dental resin cements by X-ray computed microtomography.

This research aimed to obtain the depth dependence of polymerization contraction and microporosity from irradiated dental resin cements by X-ray computed microtomography (µCT). Samples (n = 5) of commercial Relyx U200 (RU) and AllCem Core (AC) dual-cure resin cements were injected in a cylindrical Teflon sampler (25 mm3 ) and separated according to polymerization mechanism: self-cured (not irradiated) and dual-cured (irradiated from the top surface with a LED device). The cement's volume was scanned with the µCT scanning conditions kept constant. To assess the depth dependence of polymerization contraction, it was measured the displacement of the cement mass from the sample holder at 30 vertical cuts (0.1 mm distant). To probe the microporosity, the percentage of area with presence of porosity by slice was obtained. All data were statistically treated. It was observed a positive linear correlation between depth and polymerization contraction in the irradiated groups. In the other hand, the concentration of micropores decreased with increasing depth. Furthermore, the composition of the resin cement was determinant for the correlation's coefficients of these physical properties with depth. The µCT technique showed to be useful to probe physical properties of dental restorative materials that influence in the clinical outcomes, revealing that, for thin specimens, when light cured the RU cement presented mechanical behavior more favorable for clinical applications.

Effect of light-curing protocols on the mechanical behavior of bulk-fill resin composites.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of two light-curing protocols on mechanical behavior of three bulk-fill resin composites (BFRC) considering their optical properties. METHODS: One increment of 4 mm thickness of the bulk-fill resin composites Opus Bulk Fill, Tetric N-Ceram and Filtek Bulk Fill Flow were submitted to two different light-curing protocols: Sp - irradiance of 1000 mW/cm2 (20 s); Xp - irradiance of 3200 mW/cm2 (6 s). To assess the influence on the mechanical behavior it was studied polymerization shrinkage by X-ray microtomography (n = 3), Vickers hardness (n = 10) at the top and bottom surfaces of the samples, irradiance reaching the bottom surface (n = 3) and absorbance spectrum during the light-curing time interval (n = 3). Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA test for parametric data and Kruskal Wallis test, followed by Wilcoxon or Mann-Whitney U post-test, for non-parametric data. RESULTS: All BFRCs contracted when light-cured, with greater contraction for Xp. Filltek Bulk Fill Flow showed highest polymerization shrinkage, for both Sp and Xp. All BFRCs showed minor hardness values on the bottom surface, with greater reduction for Xp. All BFRCs exhibited a decrease in irradiance at 4 mm depth. A decrease in absorbance intensity throughout the light-cure was observed, except for Opus Bulk Fill. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless BFRCs composition, the light-curing protocol with lower irradiance and longer exposure time results in lower polymerization shrinkage and higher hardness. The higher irradiance in a shorter time interval compromises the mechanical behavior of the resin composites, which may result in undesirable clinical outcomes.