Influence of pH-cycling and abrasion wear on the mechanical properties of conventional and bulk fill resin composites

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of abrasion wear on surface roughness and microhardness of different commercially available resin composites simulating pH-challenges of the oral cavity. Methods: Three resin composites (RC) were used in this study: one conventional: Z250; and two bulk fill resin composites (BRC): Tetric N-Ceram (TNC) and Sonic Fill (SF). The RC was inserted in a prefabricated mold (15mm wide x 4mm thickness) in two layers, or in a single layer for BRC. Thirty samples were prepared and surface roughness (Ra) and Knoop microhardness (KHN) test were performed at three different time-points of evaluation: baseline (24h after sample preparation); partial (after pH cycling); and final (after simulated toothbrushing procedure). Two samples of each group were selected after different treatments and analyzed descriptively on a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data from Ra and KHN were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test with a significance level set at 5%. Results: Ra increased for all groups (p<0.001), at the final time-point, Z250 and TNC groups present the highest values. Oppositely, KHN decreased for all groups (p<0.001), Z250 group showed the highest KHN values for all time-points (p<0.001). The SEM imagens showed a regular surface for samples cycled and irregular with inorganic particles exposed for samples toothbrushed. Conclusion: pH-cycling and simulated toothbrushing affected the superficial properties (roughness and Knoop microhardness), as observed at SEM imagens, with irregular surface with inorganic particles exposure.