Effect of Photoinitiator Combinations on Hardness, Depth of Cure, and Color of Model Resin Composites

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the influence of photoinitiators' combinations on the hardness, depth of cure, and color of model resin composites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The composites were formulated by a mixture of BisGMA and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (60:40 mol), with barium-aluminum-silicate glass and silicon dioxide particles as inorganic fillers (60 wt%). Three photoinitiator types were tested: camphorquinone/amine (CQ), monoacylphosphine oxide (TPO), and bysacylphosphine oxide (BAPO). Six experimental groups were formed by differences in photoinitiator systems: CQ, TPO, BAPO, CQ+TPO, CQ+BAPO, and CQ+TPO+BAPO. Hardness was determined by Knoop indentation at the top and bottom surfaces (n = 5). Depth of cure was performed according to ISO 4049 scraping method (n = 5). Color was obtained by the CIELAB method (n = 10), 24 hours after curing (baseline), after 30 days storage in distilled water, and after 30 days storage in coffee solution. CIELAB color difference (ΔE*) was calculated for both periods. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls method (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The photoinitiator system influenced hardness, where CQ presented the lowest top and bottom values. No statistical difference among groups was observed for the bottom/top hardness ratio. Regarding the depth of cure, the CQ and those formulated with CQ associations presented higher values than TPO and BAPO. Regarding color, BAPO and CQ+BAPO presented the highest ΔE* after 30 days in water immersion, whereas CQ+TPO and CQ+TPO+BAPO presented the lowest after 30 days in coffee immersion. CONCLUSION: The associations CQ+TPO and CQ+TPO+BAPO presented improved color stability and hardness when compared with CQ, and did not influence the depth of cure. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The combination of alternative photoinitiators with the traditional camphorquinone/amine system improved the color stability of the model resin composites and maintaining their mechanical properties.