Effect of thermo-mechanical load cycling on silorane-based composite restorations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the formation of marginal gaps after thermo-mechanical load cycling, between siloranebased and methacrylate-based restorations. Standardized class II cavities were made in 10 permanent human third molars that were restored with the adhesive system Clearfil SE Bond+composite Filtek Z-350 (Methacrylates) and with the composite bonding Filtek P90+P90 (Siloranes), respectively. After 24 h of storage in 100% humidity at 37°C, the restoration margins were stained, photographed, and evaluated. The gap length was calculated as the percentage of the total length of the margins. Thereafter, the specimens were tested by a thermo-mechanical machine and the marginal gap formation of the specimens was re-evaluated. The results were expressed as percentages of gaps and were submitted to a Mann Whitney test at 5% level of significance. Methacrylates showed a statistically significant higher percentage of gaps than Siloranes, both before and after cycling.