Effect of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate salt on experimental infiltrants containing different diluents

Non-invasive treatments for caries lesions are increasingly required for oral health; resin infiltration is one possible conservative option. In this study, we evaluated the effects of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate salt (DPI) on experimental resin infiltrants with either (hydroxyethyl)methacrylate (HEMA) or ethanol as the diluent. A monomeric base with diglycidyl methacrylate ethoxylated (BisEMA, 25 wt%) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA, 75 wt%), 0.5 mol% of camphorquinone, and 1 mol% of ethyl-4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDAB) was prepared. The mixtures were divided into 12 groups according to DPI concentration (0; 0.25; 0.5; 1 mol%) and diluents (10 wt% HEMA, 10 wt% ethanol, or none). Degree of conversion (DC), water sorption (Ws), solubility (Sol), contact angle (CA), and cohesive strength (CS) tests were performed and compared to a commercial infiltrant control group (Icon). Only ethanol negatively affected DC and Sol, but both diluents negatively affected Ws and CS. Nevertheless, the presence of DPI, mainly at the 0.5 mol% concentration, compensated for the negative effects of the diluents. The commercial control group was less effective only for CS. In conclusion, 0.5% DPI seems to be the most suitable concentration to compensate for the negative effects of diluents.