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Curing characteristics of flowable and sculptable bulk-fill composites
Vesna Miletic1,2, Pong Pongprueksa1, Jan De Munck1
1BIOMAT, Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) & Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, block a - box, 7001, Leuven, Belgium.
Clinical Oral Investigations
|July 8, 2016
Summary
Sculptable bulk-fill composites need 20-second curing, while flowable types suffice with 10 seconds for optimal conversion and hardness. This ensures better clinical outcomes with high-intensity LED curing units.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Bulk-fill composites offer clinical advantages by reducing procedure time.
- Understanding their curing characteristics is crucial for optimal performance.
- Degree of conversion (DC), Vickers hardness (VH), and depth of cure (DoC) are key indicators of composite properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and correlate the degree of conversion (DC) with Vickers hardness (VH).
- To correlate translucency parameter (TP) with the depth of cure (DoC).
- To evaluate these properties in five different bulk-fill composites.
Main Methods:
- Five bulk-fill composites and one control were tested.
- Specimens were prepared in various thicknesses (2mm, 4mm, 6mm) and light-cured for 10 or 20 seconds.
- DC, VH, DoC, and TP were measured using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Vickers hardness testing, acetone-shaking test, and spectrophotometry, respectively.
Main Results:
- DC ranged from 40-70% and VH from 30-80 VHN.
- Sculptable bulk-fills (TEC Bulk, Xenius, SonicFill) showed >80% bottom-to-top hardness ratio after 20s curing.
- A positive linear correlation was observed between bottom DC and VH.
Conclusions:
- Sculptable bulk-fill composites require 20s of curing, whereas flowable types need only 10s with high-intensity LED units.
- Clinicians must consider material type (sculptable vs. flowable) for adequate curing duration.
- Achieving optimal curing characteristics is essential for the longevity and success of dental restorations.
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