In this study, we examined the effect of the transmitted amount of visible light through a resin composite on the curing depth and polymerization conversion. Transmitted amount of visible light was strongly dependent on the magnitude of refractive index difference that existed between the resin and silica filler. More specifically, the differences arose from the type of base monomer used. The transmitted amount of visible light exhibited a good correlation with the curing depth and Knoop hardness ratio of the bottom surface against the top surface of the resin composite. To improve the polymerization conversion of the cavity floor, it is important to reduce the refractive index difference that exists between the base resin and silica filler.

No abstract

Self-etching primers/adhesives that combine acidic methacrylate monomers with water in a single bottle are hydrolytically unstable and require refrigeration to extend their shelf-lives. This study tested the null hypothesis that one year of intermittent refrigeration of a 4-MET-containing simplified self-etching primer does not result in hydrolytic changes that are identifiable by transmission electron microscopy and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Human dentin was bonded with UniFil Bond immediately after being unpacked, or after one year of intermittent refrigeration at 4 degrees C. Fresh and aged primers were analyzed by NMR for chemical changes. Ultrastructural observations indicated that there was an augmentation in etching capacity of the aged adhesive that was not accompanied by resin infiltration or effective polymerization. New NMR peaks detected from the aged ethanol-based primer confirmed that degradation occurred initially via esterification with ethanol, followed by hydrolysis of both ester groups in the 4-MET. Hydrolysis of functional methacrylate monomers occurs despite intermittent refrigeration.