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. 2023 May 10;15(10):2250.
doi: 10.3390/polym15102250.

Assessment of Microhardness of Conventional and Bulk-Fill Resin Composites Using Different Light-Curing Intensity

Selma Jakupović  1 , Nedim Pervan  2 , Elmedin Mešić  2 , Alma Gavranović-Glamoč  3 , Anita Bajsman  4 , Enis Muratović  2 , Lejla Kazazić  3 , Alma Kantardžić-Kovačević  5
Affiliations

Assessment of Microhardness of Conventional and Bulk-Fill Resin Composites Using Different Light-Curing Intensity

Selma Jakupović et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

(1) Background: This study evaluates the effect of a conventional/low-voltage light-curing protocol (LV protocol) (10 s with 1340 mW/cm2) and high-voltage light-curing protocol (HV protocol) (3 s with 3440 mW/cm2) on the microhardness (MH) of dental resin-based composites (RBCs). Five resin composites were tested: conventional Evetric (EVT), Tetric Prime (TP), Tetric Evo Flow (TEF), bulk-fill Tetric Power Fill (PFL), and Tetric Power Flow (PFW). (2) Materials and Methods: Two tested composites (PFW and PFL) were designed for high-intensity light curing. The samples were made in the laboratory in specially designed cylindrical molds; diameter = 6 mm and height = 2 or 4 mm, depending on the type of composite. Initial MH was measured on the top and bottom surfaces of composite specimens 24 h after light curing using a digital microhardness tester (QNESS 60 M EVO, ATM Qness GmbH, Mammelzen, Germany). The correlation between the filler content (wt%, vol%) and the MH of the RBCs was tested. For the calculation of depth-dependent curing effectiveness, the bottom/top ratio for initial MH was used. (3) Conclusions: MH of RBCs is more dependent on material composition than on light-curing protocol. Filler wt% has a greater influence on MH values compared to filler vol%. The bottom/top ratio showed values over 80% for bulk composites, while for conventional sculptable composites, borderline or suboptimal values were measured for both curing protocols.

Keywords: bulk-fill composites; filler content; high-intensity curing; microhardness; resin composites.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Evetric: (a) HV protocol; (b) LV protocol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tetric Evo Flow: (a) HV protocol; (b) LV protocol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Tetric Power Fill: (a) HV protocol; (b) LV protocol.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Tetric Power Flow: (a) HV protocol; (b) LV protocol.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Tetric Prime: (a) HV protocol; (b) LV protocol.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Initial MH of tested composites on top and bottom specimen surface (mean values).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Plots of initial MH measured on top specimen surface vs. filler content (wt%) with (a) LV protocol and (b) HV protocol.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Plots of initial MH measured on top specimen surface vs. filler content (vol%) with (a) LV protocol and (b) HV protocol.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Bottom–top ratio (%) for initial MH. Red line marks 80% bottom/top MH threshold.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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