The aim of this study was to measure the initial dynamic modulus changes of light cured composites using a custom made rheometer. The custom made rheometer consisted of 3 parts: (1) a measurement unit of parallel plates made of glass rods, (2) an oscillating shear strain generator with a DC motor and a crank mechanism, (3) a stress measurement device using an electromagnetic torque sensor. This instrument could measure a maximum torque of 2Ncm, and the switch of the light-curing unit was synchronized with the rheometer.

Six commercial composite resins [Z-100 (Z1), Z-250 (Z2), Z-350 (Z3), DenFil (DF), Tetric Ceram (TC), and Clearfil AP-X (CF)] were investigated. A dynamic oscillating shear test was undertaken with the rheometer. A certain volume (14.2 mm³) of composite was loaded between the parallel plates, which were made of glass rods (3 mm in diameter). An oscillating shear strain with a frequency of 6 Hz and amplitude of 0.00579 rad was applied to the specimen and the resultant stress was measured. Data acquisition started simultaneously with light curing, and the changes in visco-elasticity of composites were recorded for 10 seconds. The measurements were repeated 5 times for each composite at 25±0.5℃. Complex shear modulus G^*, storage shear modulus G', loss shear modulus G" were calculated from the measured strain-stress curves. Time to reach the complex modulus G^* of 10 MPa was determined. The G^* and time to reach the G^* of 10 MPa of composites were analyzed with One-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α= 0.05).

The results were as follows.

1. The custom made rheometer in this study reliably measured the initial visco-elastic modulus changes of composites during 10 seconds of light curing.

2. In all composites, the development of complex shear modulus G^* had a latent period for 1~2 seconds immediately after the start of light curing, and then increased rapidly during 10 seconds.

3. In all composites, the storage shear modulus G' increased steeper than the loss shear modulus G" during 10 seconds of light curing.

4. The complex shear modulus of Z1 was the highest, followed by CF, Z2, Z3, TC and DF the lowest.

5. Z1 was the fastest and DF was the slowest in the time to reach the complex shear modulus of 10 MPa.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of elastic modulus of restorative materials and the number of interfaces of post and core systems on the stress distribution of three differently restored endodontically treated maxillary second premolars using 3D FE analysis. Model 1, 2 was restored with a stainless steel or glass fiber post and direct composite resin. A PFG or a sintered alumina crown was considered. Model 3 was restored by EndoCrown. An oblique 500 N was applied on the buccal (Load A) and palatal (Load B) cusp. The von Mises stresses in the coronal and root structure of each model were analyzed using ANSYS. The elastic modulus of the definitive restorations rather than the type of post and core system was the primary factor that influenced the stress distribution of endodontically treated maxillary premolars. The stress concentration at the coronal structure could be lowered through the use of definitive restoration of high elastic modulus. The stress concentration at the root structure could be lowered through the use of definitive restoration of low elastic modulus.

This study was to investigate the influence of combining composite resins with different elastic modulus, and occlusal loading condition on the stress distribution of restored notch-shaped non-carious cervical lesion using 3D finite element (FE) analysis.

The extracted maxillary second premolar was scanned serially with Micro-CT. The 3D images were processed by 3D-DOCTOR. ANSYS was used to mesh and analyze 3D FE model. A notch-shaped cavity was modeled and filled with hybrid, flowable resin or a combination of both. After restoration, a static load of 500N was applied in a point-load condition at buccal cusp and palatal cusp. The stress data were analyzed using analysis of principal stress.

Results showed that combining method such that apex was restored by material with high elastic modulus and the occlusal and cervical cavosurface margin by small amount of material with low elastic modulus was the most profitable method in the view of tensile stress that was considered as the dominant factor jeopardizing the restoration durability and promoting the lesion progression.