An alternative specimen preparation technique for 3-point bending tests on dual-cured dental resin cements

Abstract

The proper mechanical properties of resin cements are essential to the longevity of indirect restoration, whereas the 3-point bending test is recommended for measuring the flexural strength. The ISO 4049 specification requires light-curing of specimens in three consecutive points; however, this approach cannot be used for dual-cured resin cements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different specimen preparation techniques on the flexural strength and elastic modulus of experimental dual-cured resin cements immediately or 5 after minutes light curing. Experimental dual-cured resin cements were formulated, and the specimens of these cements were confectioned with the dimension of ISO 4049 specification. Light-activation was performed at one or three points immediately or 5 minutes after the insertion of cement into the matrix (n=7), resulting in four experimental conditions (2 methods × 2 moments of light-activation). The three-point bending test was performed and the values of the flexural strength and elastic modulus were recorded. Data were individually analyzed using 2-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey's post hoc test (P<0.05). Regardless of the points of light-activation, the specimens that were light-cured at 3 points showed the highest values of flexural strength. Only for light-activation at 1 point did the time before the light-activation affect the elastic modulus, whereas delayed light-activation had the highest values. In conclusion, the number of light-curing points on specimen preparation for the 3-point bending test seems to affect the mechanical properties of dual-cured resin cements.