An in vitro evaluation of diametral tensile strength and flexural strength of nanocomposite vs hybrid and minifill composites cured with different light sources (QTH vs LED)

Abstract

Background: Composites always remained the target of discussion due to lot of controversies around it. Mechanical properties are one of them. With the introduction of new technology and emergence of various composites which combine superior strength and polish retention, nanocomposites have led to a new spark in the dentistry. A recent curing unit LED with various curing modes claims to produce higher degree of conversion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diametral tensile strength and flexural strength of nanocomposite, hybrid and minifill composites cured with different light sources (QTH vs LED). Materials and methods: Seventy-two samples were prepared using different specially fabricated teflon molds, 24 samples of each composite were prepared for the diametral tensile strength (ADA specification no. 27) and the flexural strength (ISO 4049) of the 12 samples, six were cured with LED (Soft Start curing profile) and other six with QTH curing light and tested on a universal testing machine. Results: The nanocomposite had highest diametral tensile strength and flexural strength which were equivalent to the hybrid composite and superior than the minifill composite. Conclusion: With the combination of superior esthetics and other optimized physical properties, this novel nanocomposite system would be useful for all posterior and anterior applications.