Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the compression behavior under identical mechanical tests, of three different composite resins, by determining Young’s modulus for compression, ultimate compressive strength and ultimate compressive strain. The studied materials were: Filtek Z250 Universal Restorative, Filtek Z550 and Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). Fifteen cylindrical samples, having 6 mm in height and 5 mm in diameter, were made from each material, using plastic molds. The samples were subjected to quantitative analysis of the compression behavior after mechanical tests. The fractured fragments of the samples were subjected to qualitative surface evaluation by scanning electron microscopy. Results were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post hoc test. Filtek Z250 had the lowest value of Young’s modulus for compression and the results were statistically significant (p < 0.05) when compared to Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative and Filtek Z550. There were no statistically significant differences between all three materials regarding ultimate compressive strength (p > 0.05). The lowest value for ultimate compressive strain was recorded for Filtek Bulk Fill.
Keywords: composite resins; Young’s modulus; compressive strength; compressive strain; SEM