Surface microhardness of nanohybrid and microhybrid composite resins light cured at different distances


10.22038/jdmt.2023.74098.1581

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the surface microhardness of a nanohybrid and a microhybrid resin composite light-cured at two different distances.
Methods: A total of 40 disc specimens were prepared for this in vitro experiment; 20 from a nano-hybrid composite resin (P60) and 20 from a microhybrid composite resin (Z250). Each group was divided into two equal subgroups (n=10), based on the distance between the light-curing device and the composite surface (either 2 or 4 mm). Then samples underwent the microhardness test to determine the Vickers hardness number (VHN) at the specimen surface. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The nanohybrid resin composite showed higher microhardness values than the microhybrid resin at both 2 mm and 4 mm distances, although the difference between the two groups was only significant at the distance of 4 mm (P = 0.017). No significant difference was observed in the nanohybrid composite resin between the two curing distances (P = 0.151). However, the hardness of the microhybrid composite decreased significantly with increasing the curing distance from 2 to 4 mm (P = 0.015).
Conclusions: This study reveals that light-curing distance significantly affects the microhardness of microhybrid composite resin. The nanohybrid composite showed comparable hardness up to the distance of 4 mm, indicating its suitability to be used in situations where a close curing distance cannot be achieved.

 

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