Chemical and mechanical properties of dual-polymerizing core build-up materials

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the chemical (degree of conversion (DC)) and mechanical properties (Martens hardness (HM), elastic indentation modulus (E(IT)), and biaxial flexural strength (BFS)) of four dual-polymerizing resin composite core build-up materials after light- and self-polymerization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Round specimens with a diameter of 12 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm were manufactured from CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS (CLE; Kuraray), core·X flow (COR; Dentsply Sirona), MultiCore Flow (MUL; Ivoclar Vivadent), and Rebilda DC (REB; VOCO) (N = 96, n = 24/material). Half of the specimens were light-polymerized (Elipar DeepCure-S, 3 M), while the other half cured by self-polymerization (n = 12/group). Immediately after fabrication, the DC, HM, E(IT), and BFS were determined. Data was analyzed using Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, Spearman’s correlation, and Weibull statistics (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Light-polymerization either led to similar E(IT) (MUL; p = 0.119) and BFS (MUL and REB; p = 0.094–0.326) values or higher DC, HM, E(IT), and BFS results (all other groups; p < 0.001–0.009). When compared with the other materials, COR showed a high DC (p < 0.001) and HM (p < 0.001) after self-polymerization and the highest BFS (p = 0.020) and Weibull modulus after light-polymerization. Positive correlations between all four tested parameters (R = 0.527–0.963, p < 0.001) were found. CONCLUSIONS: For the tested resin composite core build-up materials, light-polymerization led to similar or superior values for the degree of conversion, Martens hardness, elastic indentation modulus, and biaxial flexural strength than observed after self-polymerization. Among the tested materials, COR should represent the resin composite core build-up material of choice due to its high chemical (degree of conversion) and mechanical (Martens hardness, elastic indentation modulus, and biaxial flexural strength) properties and its high reliability after light-polymerization. The examined chemical and mechanical properties showed a positive correlation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The chemical and mechanical performance of dual-polymerizing resin composite core build-up materials is significantly affected by the chosen polymerization mode.