Bulk-fill restorative composites under simulated carious and erosive conditions

Acidic conditions can cause hydrolysis and accelerate degradation of resin composites (RCs). Since there are limited and controversial data on the effect of acids on bulk-fill RCs, this study assessed the surface roughness (SR) and flexural strength (FS) of these RCs under simulated carious and erosion conditions. Bars of Filtek Bulk Fill (FBF, 3M/ESPE), X-tra fil (XTF, Voco), Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill (TBF, Ivoclar/Vivadent), and Aura Bulk Fill (ABF, SDI) and a conventional RC [Filtek Z350XT (FZ, 3M/ESPE)] were allocated (n=15) to undergo caries or erosion conditions. The control group was kept in artificial saliva (AS). The bars were evaluated for SR change (final-baseline) and for three-point FS. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test. At the baseline (p <0.001), the SR of RCs ranked as follows: (TBF = XTF) < FBF (none differed from FZ) < ABF. The interplay between RCs and conditions affected SR change (p = 0.025). While after storage in AS, there was no difference among RCs, following carious and erosive conditions, ABF showed higher SR change. For FS (p <0.001), XTF > (FBF = FZ) > (TBF = FZ) > ABF, with no difference among control, carious and erosive conditions (p = 0.148). Depending on the restorative bulk-fill RCs, carious and erosive conditions roughen the surface but do not affect the FS of these materials.