THE EFFECT OF SERVISE LIFE ON THE WATER ABSORPTION PARAMETER OF LIGHT CURING COMPOSITE RESIN MATERIALS

Abstract

Introduction. Water absorption is one of the important properties of light-curing composite resin materials used in dentistry for tooth restoration. Water absorption refers to the ability of a material to absorb water and can affect its mechanical and aesthetic properties. Aim. To find out whether the service life of the composite material has an effect on the water absorption parameter. Materials and methods. Light-curing composite resin Latelux (Latelux), manufactured by Latus, Ukraine, was chosen as the material for study. Two groups, test and control groups, were formed. The first group included samples of material with an expired service life (expired before 2018). The samples were dried in a desiccator and weighed, then placed into a thermostat with distilled water for 7 days, then removed and weighed to determine water absorption. Calculations were performed in MS Excel 2013 using the formula W: (m2-m3)/V (μg/mm3). Results. After calculating the obtained results, the water absorption of the samples with an expired shelf life was on average 3.55±0.9 µg/mm3, while the composite with a normal shelf life was 4.9±1.8 µg/mm3. All samples passed the test, i.e. their parameter did not exceed 40 μg/mm3 according to ISO standards. Statistically obtained data did not reveal a relationship between the shelf life of the composite and its water absorption (p=0.464). The thickness of the composite material also has no statistical significance on the water absorption of the composite either in the experimental (p=0.26) or in the control group (p=0.378). Conclusions. Based on the results of our own research, as well as data from literary sources, we can conclude that the shelf life does not have a significant impact on the water absorption rate of the Latelux composite material.