The Effects of Thermo-mechanical Aging on Microleakage in Composite Restorations Polymerized Using One New Generation and Two Conventional Led Light Curing Units

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of thermomechanical aging (TMA) on the microleakage scores of Class V composite restorations polymerized using one new generational and two conventional light emitting diodes (LED) light curing units (LCU).Methods:Class V cavities were prepared and restored on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 60 extracted human premolar teeth using a dental phantom head to simulate clinical conditions. After application of the adhesive system (Optibond Solo Plus, Kerr, USA) using total etch procedures, the cavities were restored with composite resin (Herculite XRV, Kerr, USA) using one new generational (Demi Ultracapacitor, Kerr, USA) and two conventional (Valo Cordless, USA and BA Optima International, UK) LED light devices. The restored teeth were then subdivided into the test (underwent TMA) and control (did not undergo TMA) groups, and the specimens were stained with 0.5% basic fuchsin dye and sectioned. Dye penetration was scored using a stereomicroscope at 40x magnification. Differences between groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests (p0.05).Conclusion:Thermal and mechanical aging procedures increased microleakage in Class V composite restorations, regardless of the light curing unit used.

Keywords

• oral simulation
• thermo-mechanical aging
• led light curing units
• microleakage
• class v cavity