Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) and the thermal stability of bulk-fill and conventional composite resins. Eleven composite resin samples were prepared to evaluate the DC, Vickers microhardness (VMH), mass and residue/particle loss, glass transition temperature (Tg), enthalpy, and linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), microdurometer analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dilatometry (DIL). The data were subjected to statistical analysis, with a significance level of 95%. DC and VMH were not influenced by the polymerized side of the sample, and statistical differences were recorded only among the materials. Decomposition temperature, melting, and mass and residue loss were dependent on the material and on the evaluation condition (polymerized and non-polymerized). Tg values were similar between the composites, without statistically significant difference, and CTE ranged from 10.5 to 37.1 (10-6/°C), with no statistical difference between the materials. There was a moderate negative correlation between CTE and the % of load particles, by weight. Most resins had a DC above that which is reported in the literature. TGA, Tg, and CTE analyses showed the thermal behavior of the evaluated composites, providing data for future research, assisting with the choice of material for direct or semidirect restorations, and helping choose the appropriate temperature for increasing the DC of such materials.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect, degree of conversion (% DC), Vickers hardness (VH), and surface morphology of composite resins. Eleven resins, nine bulk-fill resins, and two conventional resins were evaluated. Each material was sampled to evaluate DC (using FTIR), VH, cytotoxicity (using MTT and Neutral Red - NR test), surface morphology (using SEM and AFM), and organic filler (using EDS). All statistical tests were performed with SPSS and the level of significance was set at 0.05. MTT revealed that the materials presented low or no cytotoxic potential in relation to the control. Opus was the resin with the lowest cell viability at a 1:2 concentration at 72 h (32%) and at 7 days (43%), but that significantly increased when the NR test was applied at a 1:2 concentration after 7 days. Thickness and surface subjected to polymerization had no influence on DC, and differences were observed only between the materials. In the microhardness test, statistical differences were observed between the evaluated thicknesses. The bulk-fill resins analyzed in this study exhibited low and/or no cytotoxicity to L929 cells, except for Opus, which showed moderate cytotoxicity according to the MTT assay. When the NR test was used, results were not satisfactory for all composites, indicating the need for different methodologies to evaluate the properties of these materials. The assessed resins demonstrated acceptable physicomechanical properties.

Resumo Introdução Apesar dos avanços e inovações na odontologia restauradora, a microinfiltração continua sendo um dos principais problemas nessa área. Objetivo Avaliar “in vitro” a microinfiltração marginal das resinas Bulk Fill em cavidade classe II, com terminação cervical em dentina. Material e método Cavidades padronizados na mesial e distal foram elaboradas em quarenta dentes molares superiores e alocados aleatoriamente em quatro grupos (n=10), de acordo com a resina usada: G1 (controle): Filtek Z350(3M/ESPE); G2: Filtek Bulk Fill flow (3M/ESPE); G3: Surefill SDR (Dentsply); G4: X-tra base (Voco), sendo estes subdivididos em subgrupos considerando a estratégia adesiva aplicada (autocondicionamento e convencional). Após 24h de armazenamento em estufa (37 °C), as amostras foram submetidas ao teste de termociclagem (500 ciclos: 5 ºC/55 ºC). Posteriormente foram impermeabilizados, imersos em Fucsina Básica (0,5%) e seccionados no sentido mésio-distal para avaliação com lupa estereoscópica 40X (Coleman), sendo atribuído escores de 0 a 3 de acordo com a microinfiltração observada. Para análise estatística foi aplicado o teste Mann-Whitney e o Kruskal-Wallis com nível de significância de 5%. Resultado Não houve diferença estatística significante entre as resinas Bulk Fill, quando utilizada a técnica de condicionamento ácido total. Apenas a resina Filtek Bulk fill flow apresentou resultados estatisticamente significante quando se considerou a estrategia de aplicação do sistema adesivo, com piores resultados, em relação aos outros grupos. Conclusão O grau de infiltração em cavidades classe II das resinas bulk fill estudadas, não foi influenciado pelo modo de aplicação do sistema adesivo (convencional ou autocondicionante), exceto para Filtek Bulk fill flow.

Abstract Introduction Despite advances and innovations in restorative dentistry, microleakage remains one of the main problems in this area. Objective To evaluate in vitro marginal microleakage of Bulk Fill resins in class II cavities, with cervical termination in the dentin. Material and method Cavities, standardized on the mesial and distal surfaces, were prepared in forty top molars and randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10), according to the resin used. G1 (control): Filtek Z350 (3M/ESPE); G2: Filtek Bulk Fill flow (3M/ESPE); G3: Surefill SDR (Dentsply); G4: X-tra (Voco). These were further subdivided into subgroups according to the strategy used to apply the adhesive (self-etch technique and conventional). After storage for 24 hours in an oven (37 °C), the samples were submitted to the thermocycling test (500 cycles: 5 °C/55 °C). They were later waterproofed, immersed in Basic Fuchsin (0.5%) and sectioned in the mesial-distal direction for evaluation using a stereo magnifying glass at 40X (Coleman) Scores from 0 to 3 were assigned according to the microinfiltration observed. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5%, were used for statistical analysis. Result There was no statistically significant difference between the Bulk Fill resins when the total acid-etching technique was used. Only the Filtek Bulk fill flow resin presented statistically significant results when the application of the adhesive system strategy was considered, with worse results, in relation to other groups, when it the self-etching strategy was considered. Conclusion The degree of leakage of the bulk fill resins studied, in class II cavities, was not influenced by the method of application of the adhesive system (conventional or two-step self-etching bonding agent), except for the Filtek Bulk fill flow.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o grau de resistência de união à dentina dos sistemas adesivos de condicionamento ácido total Adper Single Bond (3M ESPE) e XP Bond (Dentsply) e autocondicionante Adper SE Plus (3M ESPE). MÉTODOS: Quinze terceiros molares humanos hígidos foram utilizados, divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos de cinco dentes cada, conforme o adesivo que seria utilizado. A porção oclusal foi removida com o auxílio de um disco flexível diamantado sob refrigeração, até expor uma área de dentina que não apresentasse ilhas de esmalte, comprovado em lupa esterioscópica em aumento de 40X. A smear layer foi padronizada em lixa d'água n°600. Na sequência os sistemas adesivos foram aplicados conforme as recomendações do fabricante, exceto o Adper SE Plus que teve seu tempo de polimerização triplicado. Sobre os dentes preparados foram construídos blocos de resina composta com 5mm de altura. As amostras foram armazenadas por 24 horas a 37°C em água destilada. Utilizando o disco flexível diamantado, foram obtidos corpos de prova com formato de palitos com área adesiva menor que 1mm². Em seguida o teste de microtração foi realizado numa Máquina de Ensaios Universal numa velocidade de 0,5 mm/min. Foram utilizados o teste ANOVA e comparações pareadas de Tukey. RESULTADOS: Os valores da resistência de união para cada sistema adesivo em Mpa foram: 96,24 (XP Bond); 72,39 (Adper Single Bond) e 49,91 (Adper SE Plus). CONCLUSÃO: Dessa forma, em relação à resistência de união à dentina, os adesivos convencionais apresentaram desempenho superior ao autocondicionante.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the bond strength to dentin of the Single Bond (3M ESPE) and XP Bond (Dentsply) total-etch and Adper SE Plus (3M ESPE) self-etch adhesive systems. METHODS: Fifteen healthy human third molars were randomly allocated across three different groups of five teeth each according to the adhesive system. The occlusal portion of each tooth was removed under refrigeration using a flexible diamond disc (EXTEC, Enfield, CT, USA) down to an area of dentin that did not reveal enamel, as confirmed under a 40X stereo microscope (Ramsor, São Paulo, Brazil). A standardized smear layer was created with #600 grit silicon-carbide paper. The adhesive systems were applied as per manufacturer recommendations, with the exception of the Adper SE Plus system, which was triple-polymerized. Composite resin blocks (5 mm) were placed on the dentin surface. The specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 hours at 37ºC. Using a flexible diamond disc (EXTEC, Enfield, CT, USA), toothpick-like specimens with an adhesive area of less than 1 mm² were obtained. A microtensile bond test was then carried out using a universal testing machine (KRATOS) with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were used for comparisons. RESULTS: The bond strength values obtained with each adhesive system were as follows: XP Bond, 96.24 MPa; Adper Single Bond, 72.39 MPa; Adper SE Plus, 49.91 MPa. CONCLUSION: In terms of bond strength to dentin, conventional adhesives outperform self-etching systems.