[The effect of inorganic fillers on the properties of light-curing composites]

Light curing composite resins became the preferred material in treating carious or traumatic lesions of anterior teeth. Attempts to improve the properties of these materials lead to the development of hybrid composites with an amount of anorganic fillers of more than 80 weight %. It was the purpose of this study to investigate whether composites with higher amounts of anorganic filler show better properties than those with lower amounts of filler. Eight commercial and two experimental composites have been tested for their resistance to abrasion by simulated toothbrushing, polymerization shrinkage, water sorption, porosity, and surface quality. The results showed no correlation between the amount of anorganic filler on the one hand and tested properties on the other. The amount of anorganic filler is no quality criterium per se, the properties of a composite are rather influenced by composition and quality of the organic matrix, even if the amount of anorganic fillers increases to more than 80 weight %.