This study evaluated the Knoop hardness of a dual-cured resin cement (Rely-X ARC) activated solely by chemical reaction (control group) or by chemical / physical mode, light-cured through a 1.5 mm thick ceramic (HeraCeram) or composite (Artglass) disc. Light curing was carried out using conventional halogen light (XL2500) for 40 s (QTH); light emitting diodes (Ultrablue Is) for 40 s (LED); and Xenon plasma arc (Apollo 95E) for 3 s (PAC). Bovine incisors had their buccal face flattened and hybridized. On this surface a rubber mold (5 mm in diameter and 1 mm in height) was bulk filled with the resin cement. A polyester strip was seated for direct light curing or through the discs of veneering materials. After dry storage in the dark (24 h 37°C), the samples (n = 5) were sectioned for hardness (KHN) measurements, taken in a microhardness tester (50 gF load 15 s). The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). The cement presented higher Knoop hardness values with Artglass for QTH and LED, compared to HeraCeram. The control group and the PAC/Artglass group showed lower hardness values compared to the groups light-cured with QTH and LED. PAC/HeraCeram resulted in the worst combination for cement hardness values.

Este estudo avaliou, por meio do teste de dureza Knoop, a profundidade de polimerização do cimento resinoso dual (Rely-X) ativado quimicamente (grupo controle) ou química/fisicamente (dual), fotoativado através de uma faceta de cerâmica com 1,5mm de espessura (HeraCeram). Incisivos bovinos tiveram sua face vestibular planificada e hibridizada. Sobre esta superfície, uma matriz de borracha (5mm de diâmetro e 1mm de altura) foi preenchida com cimento. Uma tira de poliéster ou um disco de material de faceta foi assentado sobre essa matriz. No grupo dual, a fotoativação foi realizada com aparelho de lâmpada halógena convencional (XL2500), por 40s (QTH); luz emitida por diodos (Ultrablue Is), por 40s (LED); ou por luz emitida por arco de plasma de Xenônio (Apollo 95E), por 3s (PAC). No grupo controle, a presa do cimento ocorreu somente por ativação química. Após armazenamento em ambiente seco e escuro (24h/37ºC), as amostras (n=5) foram seccionadas para mensuração dos valores de dureza (KHN) em três diferentes profundidades, obtidos em um aparelho microdurômetro (50gf/15s). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Tukey (a=0,05). O cimento Rely-X apresentou maiores valores de dureza Knoop após fotoativação com QTH e LED, comparados ao grupo controle e PAC. A fotoativação com PAC resultou em valores de dureza inferiores ao grupo controle. A dureza do cimento foi menor em regiões mais profundas.

This study evaluated, using Knoop hardness test, the polymerization depth of Rely-X dual-cured resin cement activated by chemical reaction alone (control group) or by chemical/physical mode with light curing through a 1.5-mm-thick ceramic layer (HeraCeram). Bovine incisors had their buccal surface flattened and hybridized. On this surface, a rubber mould (5 mm diameter; 1 mm high) was bulk filled with cement. Either a polyester strip or a 1.5-mm-thick disc of the veneering material was seated over this set. Light curing was performed with either conventional halogen light (QTH; XL2500) for 40 s, light-emitting diode (LED; Ultrablue Is) for 40 s or xenon plasma arc (PAC; Apollo 95E) for 3 s. In a control group, cement setting occurred by chemical reaction alone. After storage dry in dark (24 h/37ºC), the specimens (n=5) were sectioned for hardness (KHN) measurements at three depths in a microhardness tester (50 gf load/15 s). Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test (a = 0.05). Rely-X cement presented higher Knoop hardness values when the QTH and LED LCUs were used, compared to the control group and PAC. Light curing with PAC resulted in lower hardness compared to the control group. Cement hardness was significantly lower in deeper regions.