Effect of thermal cycling on temperature changes and bond strength in different test specimens

Objectives: To investigate temperature changes in various test specimens during thermal cycling and to evaluate difference in micro-tensile repair bond strength in specimens cut from the inner or the outer area of composite blocks after thermal cycling. Materials and methods: Four rectangular composite blocks of various sizes were fabricated, and thermocouples placed in the centre of the specimens or halfway from the surface to the centre. Composite cylinders were made on ground flat extracted molars, as intended for micro-tensile and shear bond testing, with a thermocouple placed at the centre of the cylinder radius between composite and dentin. The specimens were thermal cycled between 5 °C and 55 °C with 20-60 s dwell times. The highest and lowest temperatures in the test specimens were recorded. Composite blocks were fabricated and stored in water for a week and then repaired with the same composite. After thermal cycling (5000×, 5 °C and 55 °C with a 20 s dwell time), test specimens were cut for micro-tensile testing. Results: None of the specimens tested reached the cold and warm water bath temperatures after a 20 s dwell time. In the smallest composite block, the centre core temperature reached 5 °C and 55 °C after 40 s dwell time, but lacked 1 °C after 60 s in the largest block. None of the specimens involving teeth reached water temperatures. The micro-tensile repair strength was significantly different between the outer and the central cut rods (p < .05). Conclusions: The most commonly used dwell times for thermal cycling are insufficient to create a homogeneous temperature change.