Microtensile Bond Strength Distributions of Three Composite Materials with Different Polymerization Shrinkages Bonded to Dentin

Purpose: To assess the detrimental effects that polymerization contraction causes on the interfacial microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin of three light-curing resin composites: two conventional bis-GMA-based composite resins (Filtek Z250, TPH Spectrum) and a low shrinkage material (Filtek Silorane [SIL]). Materials and Methods: Flat surfaces of labial dentin were made in 46 bovine teeth and restored in single (group A) or in three separate (group B) one-increment visible-light cured resin composite blocks, with similar locations among teeth. After 24 h, restored teeth were sectioned perpendicular to interfaces, producing rectangular compound specimens (385 specimens were produced in group A, and 132 in group B), and submitted to tension (crosshead speed 1mm/min) until failure. µTBS results were adjusted to bonded area and transformed to percentages of maximum values within each tooth (PTens). In A groups, distances of specimens to the gingival ends of each restoration were transformed to PDistances: the percentage of that distance within its specimen. Results: Spearman's nonparametric correlation test showed that for Z250, TPH and SIL, in A groups, a material's correlation coefficient was positive for the first half of restorations (0% to 50% PDistances) and negative for the second (50% to 100%). For all materials, PTens values in extremes of restorations (pooled 0 and 100% PDistances) in A groups were smaller than corresponding values in B groups. These differences were statistically significantly (Student's t-test) only for Z250 and TPH. Conclusion: Even in cases of favorable configuration factor, polymerization shrinkage in large restorations can reduce interface mechanical characteristics. The relevance of this decrease has still to be established. Keywords: polymerization contraction stress, silorane, µTBS, Weibull analysis