Effect of low shrinkage monomers on physicochemical properties of dental resin composites

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low shrinkage monomers on physicochemical properties of dental resin composites. Two low shrinkage resin composites: one with a crosslink branching monomer (Kalore, GC Corp) and a novel monomer (Venus Diamond, Heraeus Kulzer) were compared to a conventional resin composite formulation (Filtek Z250, 3M/ESPE). The volumetric shrinkage was evaluated by µCT analysis (n=5) and the physicochemical properties by degree of C=C conversion (DC), flexural strength (FS) and Young's modulus (YM) (n=10). All samples were light cured by a LED device (Radii, SDI) with 16 J/cm2. The results were analysed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test for multiple comparisons (α=0.05). No statistical difference was found between µCT shrinkage values to Kalore (1.8%) and Venus Diamond (1.7%) (p≥0.05); Z250 presented statistical highest shrinkage value (2.0%). Kalore presented higher statistical DC (60.8%) than Venus Diamond (49.5%) and Z250 (49.6%). No statistical difference was found between FS or YM properties to Venus Diamond and Z250; Kalore presented statistical lowest FS and YM properties (p≥0.05).

Conclusion: Using novel monomers seem to reduce polymerization shrinkage without affecting the physicochemical properties evaluated of resin composites rather than using crosslink branching monomers.