Measurement of band displacement: a methodology to determine composite packability.
OBJECTIVE
A posterior composite should be able to maintain its shape when packed against a matrix band. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro methodology to determine composite packability by measuring the displacement of a matrix band.


METHODS
The experimental setup consisted of a sectional matrix system secured for the restoration of an occlusodistal cavity preparation. The distance the band was displaced was measured from superimposed digital images. First, band displacements were measured under applied forces of 25, 50, and 75 g for different loading orders. Different forces resulted in different band displacements. Loading order significantly affected band displacements. Thus, the reproducibility of the experimental setup is ensured provided the band is replaced after each test. The cavity was filled with a universal composite (Z100, 3M ESPE) or a posterior composite (Filtek P60, 3M) at 37 degrees C.


RESULTS
The band displacements were 32 +/- 28 pm vs 107 +/- 38 microm for Z100 and Filtek P60, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study proposed measuring band displacement as an in vitro methodology to determine the packability of dental composite. Based on the result, the posterior composite should help in forming contact better than the universal composite tested.
Tantbirojn
Daranee
D
Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Oral Science, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. tant0002@umm.edu
Trom
Matthew
M
Hodges
James S
JS
Douglas
William H
WH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003188:Composite Resins; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008422:Materials Testing; D008434:Matrix Bands; D008963:Molar; D010781:Photography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015040:Zirconium
D003188:Composite Resins; C438835:Filtek P60 Composite Resin; C083568:Z100 composite resin; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D015040:Zirconium