Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Curing characteristics of flowable and sculptable bulk-fill composites

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Clinical Oral Investigations Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine and correlate the degree of conversion (DC) with Vickers hardness (VH) and translucency parameter (TP) with the depth of cure (DoC) of five bulk-fill composites.

Materials and methods

Six specimens per group, consisting of Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (“TEC Bulk,” Ivoclar Vivadent), SonicFill (Kerr), SDR Smart Dentin Replacement (“SDR,” Dentsply), Xenius base (“Xenius,” StickTech; commercialized as EverX Posterior, GC), Filtek Bulk Fill flowable (“Filtek Bulk,” 3M ESPE), and Tetric EvoCeram (“TEC,” control), were prepared for DC and VH: two 2-mm-thick layers, each light-cured for 10 s; one 4-mm bulk-fill, light-cured for 10 or 20 s; and one 6-mm bulk-fill, cured for 20 s. DC was measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, VH using a Vickers hardness tester. DoC and TP were measured using an acetone-shaking test and a spectrophotometer, respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation (α = 0.05).

Results

DC and VH ranged between 40–70 % and 30–80 VHN, respectively. TEC Bulk, Xenius, and SonicFill, bulk-filled as 4-mm-thick specimens, showed bottom-to-top hardness ratios above 80 % after 20 s curing. A positive linear correlation was found for bottom DC and VH. An average DC ratio of 0.9 corresponded to a bottom-to-top VH ratio of 0.8.

Conclusions

Sculptable bulk-fills require 20 s, whereas 10 s curing time was sufficient for flowable bulk-fills using a high-intensity LED unit.

Clinical relevance

Clinicians should be aware that longer curing times may be required for sculptable than flowable bulk-fill composites in order to achieve optimal curing characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Momoi Y, Hayashi M, Fujitani M, Fukushima M, Imazato S, Kubo S, Nikaido T, Shimizu A, Unemori M, Yamaki C (2012) Clinical guidelines for treating caries in adults following a minimal intervention policy—evidence and consensus based report. J Dent 40:95–105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ferracane JL (2011) Resin composite—state of the art. Dent Mater 27:29–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Versluis A, Douglas WH, Cross M, Sakaguchi RL (1996) Does an incremental filling technique reduce polymerization shrinkage stresses? J Dent Res 75:871–878

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ilie N, Hickel R (2007) Quality of curing in relation to hardness, degree of cure and polymerization depth measured on a nano-hybrid composite. Am J Dent 20:263–268

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lazarchik DA, Hammond BD, Sikes CL, Looney SW, Rueggeberg FA (2007) Hardness comparison of bulk-filled/transtooth and incremental-filled/occlusally irradiated composite resins. J Prosthet Dent 98:129–140

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Van Ende A, De Munck J, Mine A, Lambrechts P, Van Meerbeek B (2010) Does a low-shrinking composite induce less stress at the adhesive interface? Dent Mater 26:215–222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Van Ende A, Mine A, De Munck J, Poitevin A, Van Meerbeek B (2012) Bonding of low-shrinking composites in high C-factor cavities. J Dent 40:295–303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Moszner N, Fischer UK, Ganster B, Liska R, Rheinberger V (2008) Benzoyl germanium derivatives as novel visible light photoinitiators for dental materials. Dent Mater 24:901–907

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ilie N, Hickel R (2011) Investigations on a methacrylate-based flowable composite based on the SDR technology. Dent Mater 27:348–355

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bucuta S, Ilie N (2014) Light transmittance and micro-mechanical properties of bulk fill vs. conventional resin based composites. Clin Oral Investig 18:1991–2000

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ivoclar Vivadent. Tetric evoceram bulk fill—scientific documentation 2011.

  12. Garoushi S, Sailynoja E, Vallittu PK, Lassila L (2013) Physical properties and depth of cure of a new short fiber reinforced composite. Dent Mater 29:835–841

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Czasch P, Ilie N (2012) In vitro comparison of mechanical properties and degree of cure of bulk fill composites. Clin Oral Investig 17:227–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. El-Safty S, Silikas N, Watts DC (2012) Creep deformation of restorative resin-composites intended for bulk-fill placement. Dent Mater 28:928–935

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Moorthy A, Hogg CH, Dowling AH, Grufferty BF, Benetti AR, Fleming GJ (2012) Cuspal deflection and microleakage in premolar teeth restored with bulk-fill flowable resin-based composite base materials. J Dent 40:500–505

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Roggendorf MJ, Kramer N, Appelt A, Naumann M, Frankenberger R (2011) Marginal quality of flowable 4-mm base vs. conventionally layered resin composite. J Dent 39:643–647

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Salerno M, Derchi G, Thorat S, Ceseracciu L, Ruffilli R, Barone AC (2011) Surface morphology and mechanical properties of new-generation flowable resin composites for dental restoration. Dent Mater 27:1221–1228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Petrovic LM, Zorica DM, Stojanac I, Krstonosic VS, Hadnadjev MS, Atanackovic TM (2013) A model of the viscoelastic behavior of flowable resin composites prior to setting. Dent Mater 29:929–934

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Garoushi S, Vallittu PK, Lassila LV (2007) Short glass fiber reinforced restorative composite resin with semi-inter penetrating polymer network matrix. Dent Mater 23:1356–1362

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Garoushi S, Vallittu PK, Watts DC, Lassila LV (2008) Polymerization shrinkage of experimental short glass fiber-reinforced composite with semi-inter penetrating polymer network matrix. Dent Mater 24:211–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Garoushi S, Vallittu PK, Lassila LV (2008) Depth of cure and surface microhardness of experimental short fiber-reinforced composite. Acta Odontol Scand 66:38–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Alrahlah A, Silikas N, Watts DC (2014) Post-cure depth of cure of bulk fill dental resin-composites. Dent Mater 30:149–154

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Leprince JG, Palin WM, Vanacker J, Sabbagh J, Devaux J, Leloup G (2014) Physico-mechanical characteristics of commercially available bulk-fill composites. J Dent 42:993–1000

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Alshali RZ, Salim NA, Satterthwaite JD, Silikas N (2015) Post-irradiation hardness development, chemical softening, and thermal stability of bulk-fill and conventional resin-composites. J Dent 43:209–218

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kleverlaan CJ, de Gee AJ (2004) Curing efficiency and heat generation of various resin composites cured with high-intensity halogen lights. Eur J Oral Sci 112:84–88

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. ISO 4049 (2009) Dentistry—polymer-based restorative materials

  27. Van Ende A, De Munck J, Van Landuyt KL, Poitevin A, Peumans M, Van Meerbeek B (2013) Bulk-filling of high C-factor posterior cavities: effect on adhesion to cavity-bottom dentin. Dent Mater 29:269–277

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Feilzer AJ, De Gee AJ, Davidson CL (1990) Quantitative determination of stress reduction by flow in composite restorations. Dent Mater 6:167–171

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Shah PK, Stansbury JW (2014) Role of filler and functional group conversion in the evolution of properties in polymeric dental restoratives. Dent Mater 30:586–593

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Miletic V, Santini A (2012) Micro-Raman spectroscopic analysis of the degree of conversion of composite resins containing different initiators cured by polywave or monowave LED units. J Dent 40:106–113

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Truffier-Boutry D, Demoustier-Champagne S, Devaux J, Biebuyck JJ, Mestdagh M, Larbanois P, Leloup G (2006) A physico-chemical explanation of the post-polymerization shrinkage in dental resins. Dent Mater 22:405–412

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Par M, Gamulin O, Marovic D, Klaric E, Tarle Z (2014) Effect of temperature on post-cure polymerization of bulk-fill composites. J Dent 42:1255–1260

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Flury S, Hayoz S, Peutzfeldt A, Husler J, Lussi A (2012) Depth of cure of resin composites: is the ISO 4049 method suitable for bulk fill materials? Dent Mater 28:521–528

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tarle Z, Attin T, Marovic D, Andermatt L, Ristic M, Taubock TT (2015) Influence of irradiation time on subsurface degree of conversion and microhardness of high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composites. Clin Oral Investig 19:831–840

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Chang MC, Lin LD, Chan CP, Chang HH, Chen LI, Lin HJ, Yeh HW, Tseng WY, Lin PS, Lin CC, Jeng JH (2009) The effect of BisGMA on cyclooxygenase-2 expression, PGE2 production and cytotoxicity via reactive oxygen species- and MEK/ERK-dependent and -independent pathways. Biomaterials 30:4070–4077

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sideridou I, Tserki V, Papanastasiou G (2002) Effect of chemical structure on degree of conversion in light-cured dimethacrylate-based dental resins. Biomaterials 23:1819–1829

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Santini A, Miletic V, Swift MD, Bradley M (2012) Degree of conversion and microhardness of TPO-containing resin-based composites cured by polywave and monowave LED units. J Dent 40:577–584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bouschlicher MR, Rueggeberg FA, Wilson BM (2004) Correlation of bottom-to-top surface microhardness and conversion ratios for a variety of resin composite compositions. Oper Dent 29:698–704

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BIOMAT, Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) & Dentistry, University Hospitals Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, block a – box, 7001, Leuven, Belgium

    Vesna Miletic, Pong Pongprueksa, Jan De Munck & Bart Van Meerbeek

  2. School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vesna Miletic

  3. Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium

    Neil R. Brooks

Authors
  1. Vesna Miletic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pong Pongprueksa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jan De Munck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Neil R. Brooks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bart Van Meerbeek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bart Van Meerbeek.

Ethics declarations

Funding

Dr. Miletic’s research at KU Leuven was funded by a CED-IADR Visiting Scholar Stipend, the G.0496.10 grant of the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), and the Research grant ON172007 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia.

Conflict of interest

Authors VM, PP, JDM, NRB, and BVM declare that they have no conflict of interest. Research grants and/or speaker honoraria have been received by KU Leuven and/or UZ Leuven, who employ the authors BVM and JDM, these from the companies, of which products have been investigated in this study, but they were however not directly related with the current research reported in this paper. The authors are grateful to all of the named companies for generous donations of materials used in this study.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

Not applicable. No human participants were involved in the present study. No biological tissue (e.g., extracted teeth) was used in the present study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miletic, V., Pongprueksa, P., De Munck, J. et al. Curing characteristics of flowable and sculptable bulk-fill composites. Clin Oral Invest 21, 1201–1212 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1894-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1894-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation