Effect of food/oral-simulating liquids on dynamic mechanical thermal properties of dental nanohybrid light-cured resin composites.

Objective: The purpose of this work was the study of the effect of food/oral simulating liquids on the dynamic mechanical thermal properties (viscoelastic properties) of current commercial dental light-cured resin composites characterized as nanohybrids. These nanohybrids were Grandio, Protofill-nano and Tetric EvoCeram.

Methods: The properties were determined under dry conditions (1h at 37°C after light-curing) and also after storage in dry air, distilled water, artificial saliva SAGF(®) or ethanol/water solution (75 vol%) at 37°C for up 1, 7, 30 or 90 days. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis tests were performed on a Diamond Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer in bending mode. A frequency of 1Hz and a temperature range of 25-185°C were applied, while the heating rate of 2°C/min was selected to cover mouth temperature and the materials' likely Tg.

Results: Storage modulus, loss modulus and tangent delta were plotted against temperature over this period. The Tg of composites was obtained as the temperature indicated by tanδ peak. Moreover, the maximum height of tanδ peak, the width at the half of tanδ maximum and a parameter known as "ζ" parameter were determined. All composites analyzed 1h after light-curing and 1 day in air or in food/oral simulating liquids showed two Tg. All composites stored for 7, 30 or 90 days in any medium showed unique Tg value. Also among the various properties studied the most sensible in the structural changes of composites seems to be the Tg.

Significance: Storage of composites in dry air at 37°C which is very close to their Tg (40°C) for 1 or 7 days caused post curing reactions, while storage for 30 or 90 days has no further effect on composites. Storage in water or artificial saliva 37°C for 1 or 7 days caused post curing reactions, while storage for 30 or 90 days seems to cause plasticization effect affecting some parameters analogously. Storage in ethanol/water solution (75vol%) 37°C for 1 or 7 days caused also post curing reactions, while storage for 30 or 90 days caused plasticization and/or probable oxidation/hydrolysis of polymeric network.