Influence of light-curing units on surface microhardness and color change of composite resins after challenge

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate microhardness and color change (ΔE) of composite resins, light cured with different light emission diodes (LEDs) and submitted to artificial accelerated aging (AAA). Materials and methods: Two composite resins with lucirin- TPO photoinitiator were selected: Tetric N-Ceram (Ivoclar Vivadent, A1) and Vit-l-escence (Ultradent, WO).A resin with the only camphorquinone photoinitiator was chosen as a negative control: Filtek Z350XT (3M ESPE, WD). Disc-shaped specimens were prepared (5 mm diameter; 1.5 mm thick) and photopolymerized with an LED with one wavelength (Radii-Cal, SDI) or multiple wavelengths (Valo, Ultradent), for each composite resin (n = 10). Surface microhardness and color evaluations were performed immediately after specimen preparation and after AAA. Microhardness results were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests for multiple comparisons. To compare the evaluation of microhardness at different times, the Wilcoxon test was used. Mean values of ΔE, ΔL, Δa, and Δb were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey test for multiple comparisons (α = 0.05). Results: Regarding microhardness, a statistically significant difference between the two LEDs was observed for Vit-lescence after AAA. When comparing composite resins that were light-cured with the same device, FiltekZ350XT obtained the greatest microhardness. All groups presented a statistically significant decrease in microhardness from the initial time to the AAA. Regarding ΔE, no statistically significant difference between the two LEDs was observed. When comparing composite resins, FiltekZ350XT showed the highest ΔE values. Conclusion: In general, an LED with multiple wavelengths influenced the microhardness of only one resin containing lucirin-TPO after AAA. The ΔE was more influenced by the composite resin than the LED device. Clinical significance: The knowledge of composite resin with deficiencies in the polymerization mechanism could contribute to preventing restorations to become more susceptible to color change and reduction of the mechanical strength.