Leaching of monomers from bulk-fill composites: An in vitro study

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the elution of bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (BisGMA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) from two bulk-fill composites at different polymerization times, for different storage periods when cured with quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) curing unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tetric N-Ceram bulk fill and EverX Posterior were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography unit. Totally, 68 samples were prepared, two groups (n = 17) from both the composites, one for each tested polymerization time. Each sample was cured with a QTH curing unit, using soft-start curing technique and stored in 2 ml of ethanol for 24 h. Storage medium was renewed and then stored again for 1 week. Data acquired were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The elution of BisGMA was significantly higher from Tetric N-Ceram bulk fill and BisGMA and TEGDMA from EverX Posterior composite at the end of 24 h, irrespective of the curing time. In EverX Posterior, a higher amount of TEGDMA was eluted at the end of 24 h, while at the end of 1 week, significantly higher amount of BisGMA was released. CONCLUSION: A significant amount of the release of BisGMA as well as TEGDMA was seen from both the composites when stored for different time intervals.