Influence of various specimen storage strategies on dental resin-based composite properties

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various specimen storage conditions on the properties (surface hardness, biaxial flexural strength (BFS), water sorption and solubility) of a restorative dental resin composite. Disc-shaped specimens (12× 1 mm) of light cured dental resin composite were stored under three different wet storage conditions (stacked, upright on edge and one surface exposed) for 1 and 13 weeks prior to testing the properties of the materials (BFS, surface hardness, water sorption and solubility). The control and stacked groups specimens showed no considerable changes in the BFS with storage time (1and 13 weeks). The BFS of one surface exposed specimens and upright on edge specimens was substantially reduced after 13 weeks of storage. The different storage conditions significantly influenced various properties (biaxial flexural strength, hardness, water sorption and solubility) of dental composites.