Influence of pH-cycling and abrasion wear on the mechanical properties of conventional and bulk fill resin composites

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of abrasion wear on surface roughness and microhardness of different commercially available resin composites simulating pH-challenges of the oral cavity. Methods: Three resin composites (RC) were used in this study: one conventional: Z250; and two bulk fill resin composites (BRC): Tetric N-Ceram (TNC) and Sonic Fill (SF). The RC was inserted in a prefabricated mold (15mm wide x 4mm thickness) in two layers, or in a single layer for BRC. Thirty samples were prepared and surface roughness (Ra) and Knoop microhardness (KHN) test were performed at three different time-points of evaluation: baseline (24h after sample preparation); partial (after pH cycling); and final (after simulated toothbrushing procedure). Two samples of each group were selected after different treatments and analyzed descriptively on a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data from Ra and KHN were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test with a significance level set at 5%. Results: Ra increased for all groups (p<0.001), at the final time-point, Z250 and TNC groups present the highest values. Oppositely, KHN decreased for all groups (p<0.001), Z250 group showed the highest KHN values for all time-points (p<0.001). The SEM imagens showed a regular surface for samples cycled and irregular with inorganic particles exposed for samples toothbrushed. Conclusion: pH-cycling and simulated toothbrushing affected the superficial properties (roughness and Knoop microhardness), as observed at SEM imagens, with irregular surface with inorganic particles exposure.