COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF MODELING AGENTS ON THE SURFACE PROPERTIES OF AESTHETIC NANO-HYBRID

Abstract

Objective: Resin-Based Composite is one of the most widely used direct restorations in modern dentistry. However, it has its own drawbacks as its stickiness to the dental instrument upon packing which results in some difficulties when handling, therefore some clinicians resort to the use of some agents to ease the handling of the composite. However, this practice raises the question of how such agents can affect the restoration's physical properties.

Aim: This in vitro study aims to assess the effect of different modeling agents on the Nano-hybrid Resin Composite, specifically the restoration's color change and microhardness.

Materials and Methods: The study involved 45 Nanohybrid Resin-based Composite blocks divided into 3 groups with 15 blocks in each. First group was a control group consisting of only composite, meanwhile the second and third groups were subjected to a Modeling Liquid and a Universal adhesive respectively, then all three groups were light cured, immersed in colored media and kept in a container for 1 week. Color change and Microhardness of the cured blocks were measured before and after there immersion into the colored media.

Results: Results have shown statistically significant difference among the values of color change and microhardness within the three groups.

Conclusion: Modeling agent use might negatively affect the microhardness and color stability of the Nano-hybrid Resin-Based Composite depending on the type of the modeling agent itself.

Clinical implications: Based on our findings, it is advised for the clinicians to be more cautious about the use of different agents on Composite, with extra care to be taken when selecting the type of the modeling agent to be used.