Impact of Indenter Load on Hardness of Resin Composite
Author Information
Author(s): Price Richard B., Sullivan Braden, Kim Bongju
Primary Institution: Dalhousie University
Hypothesis
Polishing and indenter load do not affect the Vickers microhardness values of resin-based composites.
Conclusion
Polishing significantly increases the microhardness and degree of conversion of the resin composite, while the indenter load affects the hardness of unpolished surfaces.
Supporting Evidence
- Polishing increased the degree of conversion by 13.5% at the top and 46.7% at the bottom surface.
- The indenter load did not significantly affect the Vickers hardness of the polished top surface.
- Using a 300-gf load is recommended for adequate indent depth without deforming the resin composite.
Takeaway
This study found that polishing makes a dental material harder, and using a heavier weight when testing its hardness can change the results.
Methodology
The study measured the microhardness and degree of conversion of a resin composite using different indenter loads and after polishing.
Limitations
The study only used one type of resin composite, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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