Long-term sorption and solubility of bulk-fill and conventional resin-composites in water and artificial saliva

Abstract

Objectives To assess sorption and solubility of several bulk-fill and conventional resin-composites after one-year storage in water and artificial saliva (AS). Methods Six bulk-fill (SureFil SDR, Venus Bulk Fill, X-tra base, Filtek Bulk Fill flowable, Sonic Fill, and Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill) and eight conventional resin-composites (Grandioso Flow, Venus Diamond Flow, XFlow, Filtek Supreme XTE, Grandioso, Venus Diamond, TPH Spectrum, and Filtek Z250) were tested. Disc shaped samples (n = 5) were randomly immersed into distilled water and AS for one-year period and weighed at different time intervals. Data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). Results In water, all materials (with the exception of X-Flow) reached a stable mass within three months with a slow increase observed in AS up to one year. Sorption values in water and AS for most materials were not significantly different (p 0.2). Sorption and solubility values in water ranged from (6.5 μg/mm3 and -1.77 μg/mm3 respectively) for X-tra base to (78.8 μg/mm3 and 44.77 μg/mm3 respectively) for X-Flow (p < 0.005). Sorption of the polymer matrix in water ranged from 1.18% for XB to 9.95 % for XF. Conclusions Water sorption and solubility of resin-composites are material-dependent and highly affected by the filler loading and hydrophilicity of the resin matrix. BisEMA and UDMA-BisEMA based resins appeared to be more hydrophobic than BisGMA based systems. Water and AS, are generally comparable as storage media in terms of water sorption. Clinical significance Bulk-fill materials and conventional resin-composites tested varied in terms of sorption and solubility but both were considered stable in longterm water storage. The composition of each material is critical and can affect the long-term clinical performance of either type of resincomposites.