Effect of wetting agent coverage on the surface properties of resin composite submitted to brushing and staining cycles

BACKGROUND: Wetting agents facilitate the composites handling, acting as a lubricant and decreasing their stickness to spatula. The effects of these materials on the properties of composites are not completely clear. This study aimed to evaluate Gloss, Color, Roughness and Microhardness of a composite (Filtek Z250 XT, 3M Oral Care) covered by a wetting agent (Modeling Resin, Bisco), submitted to brushing and staining cycles with red wine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cylinder-shaped samples (8 mm ø x 2 mm height) were divided into 4 groups, according to application of wetting agent and brushing cycles (n = 20). The composite was placed in the orifice of a polytetrafluoroethylene mold, received wetting agent coverage, and was light-cured. Gloss, Color, Roughness and Microhardness were evaluated in two times: after samples confection and after brushing + staining cycles. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (ΔL, Δa, Δb and ΔE) and two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferronis’s test (gloss, roughness and microhardness). RESULTS: In general, the composite showed higher gloss values when added by the wetting agent. No statistical differences were observed regarding colors’ groups. Roughness increased after brushing cycles, regardless of wetting agent application. The only group which presented decreased Microhardness after cycles was the group without wetting agent, only submitted to staining with red wine. CONCLUSIONS: The application of wetting agent on the composite did not interfere negatively with its properties of Gloss, Color, Roughness and Microhardness. Key words:Resin composite, wetting agent, surface properties, gloss, color, esthetic dentistry.