Secondary caries formation in vitro around glass ionomer-lined amalgam and composite restorations.

The aim of this in vitro secondary caries study was to examine the glass-ionomer liner's effect on wall-lesion inhibition when a conventional and a light-cured glass ionomer liner was placed under amalgam and composite resin restorations. Class V preparations in extracted upper premolars were used and ten restorations were used for each of the following groups: (i) two layers of copal varnish and amalgam; (ii) conventional glass-ionomer and amalgam; (iii) light-cured glass-ionomer and amalgam; (iv) bonding agent and light-cured composite resin; (v) conventional glass-ionomer, bonding agent and light-cured composite resin; (vi) light-cured glass-ionomer, extended 0.3 mm short of the enamel margin bonding agent and light-cured composite resin; and (vii) light-cured glass-ionomer, extended 1 mm short of the enamel margin, bonding agent and light-cured composite resin. The teeth were thermocycled and artificial caries were created using an acid-gel. The results of this study showed that artificial recurrent caries can be reduced significantly (P < 0.05) with a glass-ionomer liner under amalgam restorations. The results also showed that when the light-cured glass-ionomer liner was placed 0.3 mm from the cavosurface margin under composite resin restoration, the artificial recurrent caries reduced significantly (P < 0.05).

Surface hardness of light-cured and self-cured composite resins.

The surface microhardness of eight visible light-cured and self-cured composite resin materials was measured from 10 minutes after polymerization to 12 months. After the last measurement, a 250 microns layer was removed by grinding and the surface was reexamined. There was a progressive increase of microhardness for 4 weeks in all specimens (dry or wet), followed by stabilization. These results reflected the continual polymerization of composite resins after initial hardening for both self-cured and light-cured composite resins. The surfaces of specimens stored in water were softened compared with the surfaces of dry specimens. All the composite resins demonstrated substantially higher hardness after grinding, but different results among materials were attributed to varying compositions.

Creep of posterior dental composites.

The creep of microspecimens of posterior dental composites was studied using a torsional creep apparatus. Shear stresses were maintained for 3 h and recovery was followed for 50 h. Creep curves were obtained at 21, 37, and 50 degrees C and four torque levels. The effect of conditioning the specimens in water up to 8 weeks was studied. The posterior composites exhibited linear viscoelastic behavior at low deformations. They had higher shear moduli and greater resistance to creep than conventional and microfilled composites. In aging experiments, maximum shear moduli occurred when specimens were 48 h to 1 week old. Subsequent softening was attributed to water absorption. Residual strain was highest when the composites were stressed within 24 h of initiating polymerization. Residual strain was very low in specimens 48 h to 8 weeks of age.

Creep of conventional and microfilled dental composites.

The creep of microspecimens of two conventional and two microfilled composites was studied using a torsional creep apparatus. Small stresses below the materials' proportional limits were maintained for 3 h and recovery was monitored for 30 h. Creep curves were obtained at 21.5, 37, and 50 degrees C, and three torque levels. The composites exhibited linear viscoelastic behavior at low deformations. The magnitude of creep depended on the amount and type of resin in the composites. The materials did not recover their original shape after 30 h after the stress was removed. No transitions were observed in the temperature range employed. The shear moduli decreased with temperature and are in reasonable agreement with literature values obtained with other tests.