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Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation
Published on: July 21, 2014
24 hour polymerization shrinkage of resin composite core materials
Robert Taylor1, Rodrigo Fuentealba2, William W Brackett3
1Division of Comprehensive Care, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Purpose:
The study's purpose was to evaluate the 24-hour polymerization shrinkage of resin composite core materials.
Material And Methods:
Eleven resin composite core material samples (n = 12) were evaluated using a non-contact imaging device with measurements obtained over 24 h. Shrinkage values were determined corresponding to proposed times involved with CAD/CAM same-day treatment and at 24 h. Shrinkage data was statistically compared using Friedman/Dunn's test for intragroup analysis and Kruskal Wallis/Dunn's test for intergroup analysis, all at a 95% level of confidence (α = 0.05).
Results:
Mean results identified a wide volumetric shrinkage range with considerable similarity overlap. Inconsistent shrinkage behavior was evident and all materials reached maximum values before 24 h. No significant difference was observed during proposed digital same day all ceramic crown procedures, but some differences were noted at 24 h.
Conclusions:
Under this study's conditions results were material specific, at times inconsistent, with wide variation. Shrinkage consistently increased for all products and it is not known if the continued shrinkage magnitude may compromise the stability and fit of all-ceramic crowns at 24 h.
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