Effect of extended light activation and increment thickness on physical properties of conventional and bulk-filled resin-based composites.

Objectives: To evaluate the biaxial flexural strength (BFS), flexural modulus (BFM), and Knoop microhardness (KHN) of incremental and bulk-filled resin-based composites (RBCs) using extended curing exposure times.

Materials And Methods: Disc specimens (n = 8; 6-mm diameter) were fabricated using three stacked molds (0.5-mm thick for the top and bottom molds, and a 1-mm-thick center mold for the conventional and 3-mm thick for the bulk-fill RBCs).

Flexural strength and microhardness of bulk-fill restorative materials.

Background: Bulk-fill materials can facilitate the restorative procedure mainly for deep and wide posterior cavities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate flexural strength (biaxial flexural strength [BFS]) and microhardness (Knoop microhardness [KHN]) at different depths of bulk-fill materials.

Methods: Five bulk-fill materials were tested: two light-curable composite resins, one dual-cure composite, one bioactive restorative, and a high-viscosity glass ionomer.