Wear and roughness analysis of two highly filled flowable composites

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Traditional packable composites have been the standard for occlusal restorations.
• Evaluating alternatives that offer comparable or superior performance is crucial for improving clinical outcomes.
• Highly filled flowable composites present a potential alternative due to their ease of use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the surface roughness and wear of highly filled flowable composites with traditional packable composites.
• To investigate the impact of polymerization time on these properties.
• To assess the suitability of highly filled flowables as alternatives in occlusal applications.

Main Methods:

• Four composite materials (two highly filled flowables, two packable) were tested.
• Specimens were subjected to simulated chewing (240,000 cycles, 20N).
• Surface roughness and wear were measured, with SEM used for qualitative analysis. Polymerization times of 10s and 80s were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Wear analysis showed statistically significant differences between material types and polymerization times.
• Surface roughness also exhibited statistically significant differences across groups.
• Highly filled flowable composites demonstrated comparable wear and surface roughness to packable composites, especially with longer curing times.

Conclusions:

• Highly filled flowable composites are a valid alternative to traditional paste composites for occlusal restorations.
• Increased polymerization time improves the mechanical properties of these composites.
• The comparable surface roughness and wear suggest favorable longevity in clinical use.