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Refractive Index Mismatch and Monomer Reactivity Influence Composite Curing Depth

¹ The University of Birmingham, School of Dentistry, St. Chad’s Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, England; and
² Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein

^* corresponding author, a.c.c.shortall{at}bham.ac.uk

Limited cure depth is a drawback of light-activated composites. We hypothesize that curing light transmission and cure depth are influenced by monomer reactivity and filler/resin refractive index mismatch. Light transmission throughout cure was recorded for composites based on strontium (refractive index 1.51) or barium (refractive index 1.53) glass fillers. Fillers were mixed (70 wt%) with 4 bisphenol-A diglycidyl-ether-dimethacrylate (bis-GMA):triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) formulations with refractive indices ranging from 1.4703 to 1.5370. Following polymerization, cure depth and pre- and post-cure translucency parameters were determined. Transmission changes and cure depths related to monomer reactivity and filler/resin refractive index mismatch with significant interaction. Composites became more opaque or translucent on curing. Optimizing filler/resin refractive index mismatch provides increased curing depth and assists shade-matching.

KEY WORDS: resin composite • refractive index • monomer reactivity • depth of cure