This study assessed the effect of water storage on the flexural strength (FS) of low shrinkage composites.

A total of 165 bar-shaped specimens (2 × 2 × 25 mm) were fabricated of 2 low shrinkage composites (Filtek P90 [3M ESPE], GC Kalore [GC International]) and a conventional methacrylate-based composite (Filtek Z250 [3M ESPE]). The specimens were subjected to 3-point bending test at 6 time intervals, namely: immediately after curing, at 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year following storage in wet and dry conditions. The FS of the specimens were measured by applying compressive load at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Data was analyzed using 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test.

Three-way ANOVA revealed significant interactions between time, type of composite, and storage condition (p = 0.001). Tukey's multiple comparison test revealed significant reductions in FS of all composites after 6 months and 1 year of storage in distilled water compared to dry condition.

Filtek P90 showed the highest and GC Kalore showed the lowest FS after 1 year storage in distilled water. The immediate high strength of Filtek Z250 significantly decreased at 1 year and its final value was lower than that of Filtek P90.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three different drinks on the color parameters of four different restorative materials.

Three different composites (Filtek Ultimate Universal Restorative, Filtek Ultimate Flowable, and Filtek Silorane, 3M ESPE) and a polyacid-modified composite resin material (Dyract XP, Dentsply DeTrey GmbH) were evaluated. Eighty-four disc-shaped specimens of 8 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness were prepared (n = 21 each). Color coordinates (L*a*b*, ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, and ΔE*) were measured using a VİTA Easyshade Compact (VİTA Zahnfabrik) after 24 hr of storage (baseline) and after 30 day of storage in three different beverages of black tea, Coca cola, or water (control) (n = 7). In each beverage, the specimens were stored three times a day, one hr each, for 30 day. The color changes (ΔE) were calculated and were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn multiple comparison test.

The color difference (ΔE*) of the resin materials ranged between 1.31 and 15.28 after 30 day of immersion in the staining solutions. Dyract XP in Coca cola (15.28 ± 2.61) and black tea (12.22 ± 2.73) showed the highest mean ΔE* value after 30 day, followed by Filtek Ultimate Universal Restorative (5.99 ± 1.25) and Filtek Ultimate Flowable (4.71 ± 1.40) in black tea (p < 0.05).

The compomers displayed unacceptable color changes at the end of 30 day in all beverages. Among resin composites, the silorane based composite exhibited relatively good color stability than the others. Filtek Ultimate Universal Restorative and Filtek Flowable showed similar color changes in all beverages.

This study evaluated the effect of lactic acid and acetic acid on the microhardness of a silorane-based composite compared to two methacrylate-based composite resins.

Thirty disc-shaped specimens each were fabricated of Filtek P90, Filtek Z250 and Filtek Z350XT. After measuring of Vickers microhardness, they were randomly divided into 3 subgroups (n = 10) and immersed in lactic acid, acetic acid or distilled water. Microhardness was measured after 48 hr and 7 day of immersion. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). The surfaces of two additional specimens were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after immersion.

All groups showed a reduction in microhardness after 7 day of immersion (p < 0.001). At baseline and 7 day, the microhardness of Z250 was the greatest, followed by Z350 and P90 (p < 0.001). At 48 hr, the microhardness values of Z250 and Z350 were greater than P90 (p < 0.001 for both), but those of Z250 and Z350 were not significantly different (p = 0.095). Also, the effect of storage media on microhardness was not significant at baseline, but significant at 48 hr and after 7 day (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Lactic acid had the greatest effect.

The microhardness of composites decreased after 7 day of immersion. The microhardness of P90 was lower than that of other composites. Lactic acid caused a greater reduction in microhardness compared to other solutions.

This study examined the influence of the resin thickness on the polymerization of silorane- and methacrylate-based composites.

One silorane-based (Filtek P90, 3M ESPE) and two methacrylate-based (Filtek Z250 and Z350, 3M ESPE) composite resins were used. The number of photons were detected using a photodiode detector at the different thicknesses (thickness, 1, 2 and 3 mm) specimens. The microhardness of the top and bottom surfaces was measured (n = 15) using a Vickers hardness with 200 gf load and 15 sec dwell time conditions. The degree of conversion (DC) of the specimens was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scratched powder of each top and bottom surface of the specimen dissolved in ethanol for transmission FTIR spectroscopy. The refractive index was measured using a Abbe-type refractometer. To measure the polymerization shrinkage, a linometer was used. The results were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at p < 0.05 level.

The silorane-based resin composite showed the lowest filler content and light attenuation among the specimens. P90 showed the highest values in the DC and the lowest microhardness at all depth. In the polymerization shrinkage, P90 showed a significantly lower shrinkage than the rest two resin products (p < 0.05). P90 showed a significantly lower refractive index than the remaining two resin products (p < 0.05).

DC, microhardness, polymerization rate and refractive index linearly decreased as specimen thickness linearly increased. P90 showed much less polymerization shrinkage compared to other specimens. P90, even though achieved the highest DC, showed the lowest microhardness and refractive index.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-etching on the bond strength of silorane-based composite specific adhesive system to dentin.

Thirty human molars were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the different bonding strategies. For teeth restored with silorane-based composite (Filtek Silorane, 3M ESPE), the specific self-etching adhesive system (Adhesive System P90, 3M ESPE) was used with and without pre-etching (Pre-etching/Silorane and Silorane groups). Teeth restored with methacrylate based-composite (Filtek Z250, 3M ESPE) were hybridized with the two-step self-etching system (Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray), with and without pre-etching (Pre-etching/Methacrylate and Methacrylate groups), or three-step adhesive system (Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, 3M ESPE) (Three-step/Methacrylate group) (n = 6). The restored teeth were sectioned into stick-shaped test specimens (1.0 × 1.0 mm), and coupled to a universal test machine (0.5 mm/min) to perform microtensile testing.

Pre-etching/Methacrylate group presented the highest bond strength values, with significant difference from Silorane and Three-step/Methacrylate groups (p < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different from Preetching/Silorane and Methacrylate groups.

Pre-etching increased bond strength of silorane-based composite specific adhesive system to dentin.

This study aimed to assess the effect of 38% carbamide peroxide on the microleakage of class V cavities restored with either a silorane-based composite or two methacrylate-based composites.

A total of 96 class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface of extracted human teeth with both enamel and dentin margins and were randomly assigned into three groups of Filtek P90 (3M-ESPE) + P90 system adhesive (3M-ESPE)(group A), Filtek Z250 (3M-ESPE) + Adper Prompt L-Pop (3M-ESPE)(group B) and Filtek Z350XT (3M-ESPE) + Adper Prompt L-Pop (group C). Half of the teeth were randomly underwent bleaching (38% carbamide peroxide, Day White, Discus Dental, applying for 15 min, twice a day for 14 day) while the remaining half (control) were not bleached. Dye penetration was measured following immersion in basic fuchsine. Data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests at a level of 0.05.

No significant differences were found between composites in the control groups in enamel (p = 0.171) or dentin (p = 0.094) margins. After bleaching, microleakage of Z250 (in enamel [p = 0.867] or dentin [p = 0.590] margins) and Z350 (in enamel [p = 0.445] or dentin [p = 0.591] margins) did not change significantly, but the microleakage of P90 significantly increased in both enamel (p = 0.042) and dentin (p = 0.002) margins.

No significant differences were noted between the bleached and control subgroups of two methacrylate-based composites in enamel or dentin margins. Microleakage of silorane-based composite significantly increased after bleaching.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate µTBS (microtensile bond strength) of current dentin bonding adhesives which have different hydrophobicity with low-shrinkage silorane resin.

Thirty-six human third molars were used. Middle dentin was exposed. The teeth were randomly assigned to nine experimental groups: Silorane self-etch adhesives (SS), SS + phosphoric acid etching (SS + pa), Adper easy bond (AE), AE + Silorane system bonding (AE + SSb), Clearfil SE bond (CSE), CSE + SSb, All-Bond 2 (AB2), AB2 + SSb, All-Bond 3 (AB3). After adhesive's were applied, the clinical crowns were restored with Filtek LS (3M ESPE). The 0.8 mm × 0.8 mm sticks were submitted to a tensile load using a Micro Tensile Tester (Bisco Inc.). Water sorption was measured to estimate hydrophobicity adhesives.

µTBS of silorane resin to 5 adhesives: SS, 23.2 MPa; CSE, 19.4 MPa; AB3, 30.3 MPa; AB2 and AE, no bond. Additional layering of SSb: CSE + SSb, 26.2 MPa; AB2 + SSb, 33.9 MPa; AE + SSb, no bond. High value of µTBS was related to cohesive failure. SS showed the lowest water sorption. AE showed the highest solubility.

The hydrophobicity of adhesive increased, and silorane resin bond-strength was also increased. Additional hydrophobic adhesive layer did not increase the bond-strength to silorane resin except AB2 + SSb. All-Bond 3 showed similar µTBS & water sorption with SS. By these facts, we could reach a conclusion that All-Bond 3 is a competitive adhesive which can replace the Silorane adhesive system.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the polymerization shrinkage stress among conventional methacrylate-based composite resins and a silorane-based composite resin.

The strain gauge method was used for the determination of polymerization shrinkage strain. Specimens were divided by 3 groups according to various composite materials. Filtek Z-250 (3M ESPE) and Filtek P-60 (3M ESPE) were used as a conventional methacrylate-based composites and Filtek P-90 (3M ESPE) was used as a silorane-based composites. Measurements were recorded at each 1 second for the total of 800 seconds including the periods of light application. The results of polymerization shrinkage stress were statistically analyzed using One way ANOVA and Tukey test (p = 0.05).

The polymerization shrinkage stress of a silorane-based composite resin was lower than those of conventional methacrylate-based composite resins (p < 0.05). The shrinkage stress between methacrylate-based composite resin groups did not show significant difference (p > 0.05).

Within the limitation of this study, silorane-based composites showed lower polymerization shrinkage stress than methacrylate-based composites. We need to investigate more into polymerization shrinkage stress with regard to elastic modulus of silorane-based composites for the precise result.