Optimization of hybrid composite properties.

Hybrid composites have been a popular class of a wear-resistant posterior composite restorative material. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hybridization on the physical properties of a composite with different amounts of submicron silica (0.04 microns) with semiporous strontium glass (1.4 microns ave. by number/5 microns ave. by volume) in a Bis-GMA based resin system. As the submicron content increases, the total filler loading in the composite was increased. At the 25 percent submicron silica level, the filler loading was highest and the physical strength measurements were highest, except for DTS results, which were fairly steady throughout the 5-40 percent level.