Effect of resin-based material combination on the compressive and the flexural strength

The mechanical properties, elasticity and compressive strength, of restorative materials play a crucial role during mastication for clinical performance of materials in particular stress bearing areas at posterior regions. This in vitro study was objected to evaluate the changes in the compressive and flexural strength of tooth-coloured resin-based dental restorations placed on flowable composites. Specimens in the control group were produced in cylindrical form for testing compressive strength and in quadrangular prism form for flexural strength test. Tetric Ceram, Charisma, Surefil, Admira and two compomers; Dyract AP and Compoglass F in test group specimens were fabricated by placing the control materials on different flowables. The material combinations were as follows: Tetric Ceram/Tetric Flow Charisma/Flowline, Surefil/Dyract Flow, Admira/Admira Flow, Dyract AP/Dyract Flow, Compoglass F/Compoglass Flow. Compressive strength values were measured at the Instron Testing Machine with a cross-head speed of 10 mm min(-1) while flexural strength were determined in three-point bending with a cross-head speed of 1 mm min(-1). One-way anova and Tukey's multiple comparison tests were performed for the statistical analysis. The flexural strength values of Tetric Ceram/Tetric Flow (135.9 +/- 3.2), Charisma/Flowline (120.4 +/- 5.6) and Compoglass F/Compoglass Flow (108.2 +/- 5.2) combinations were statistically greater than Tetric Ceram (110.8 +/- 10.5), Charisma (95.3 +/- 5.3) and Compoglass F (86.9 +/- 4.9). The results of the present study support the idea that the placement of flowable composite as a liner under the resin-based composite restoratives increase the flexural strength.