Effect of freshly placed core buildup composites on setting of silicon impression materials

AIM: The aim is to study the effect of freshly placed composite build-ups on setting of additional silicone impression materials. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In vitro - experimental study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three composite materials; Build-It™ F. R™, Filtek™ Bulk Fill flow and Filtek™ Z350 and three light-bodied additional silicone impression materials; Elite HD+, Aquasil LV Ultra and Express™ were used. Cylindrical-shaped specimens were made of each material (diameter 15 mm and height 10 mm). The silicone specimens were brought into contact with the composite specimens, which were either freshly cured (9 groups, n = 90) or cured and then stored in normal saline for 1 week (9 groups, n = 90). Shore A hardness (SAH) scores of silicone surfaces were recorded following the ASTM D2240-5 standards for shore A Durometer testing. Six measurements were made per each silicone surface and medians were calculated. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests (SPSS v20) were used to check statistical significant differences between all groups and paired comparisons, respectively (P < 0.05). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: The SAH scores of additional silicones in direct contact with freshly placed composites were significantly less than SAH scores of additional silicones in direct contact with composites specimens aged for 1 week in 7 out of 9 combinations (P < 0.05). Only when Express™ and Elite HD+ were applied over freshly placed Filtek™ Bulk Fill flow, the SAH scores difference was not statistically significant to SAH scores of matching combinations applied after 1 week of composite storage. CONCLUSIONS: Freshly placed composite might affect setting of additional silicone impression materials. Dentists should carefully assess final impression on areas of prepared teeth that have received composite fillings recently.