Degree of conversion, depth of cure, and color stability of experimental dental composite formulated with camphorquinone and phenanthrenequinone photoinitiators.

Abstract

This study evaluated the applicability of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) in experimental dental composites. Camphorquinone (CQ), PQ, ethyl 4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB) and diphenyliodonium salt (DPI) were employed. A mixture of 2,2-bis(4-[2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy]phenyl)-propane/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (60:40%) and silanated glass filler at 60% were used. A two-peak-based light-emitting diode (LED) was used. The photoinitiator absorption and the light emission spectra were determined by a Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and a spectroradiometer, respectively. Relative photon absorption (RPabs) was calculated. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to determine the degree of conversion (DC). The optical properties were determined with a spectrophotometer. Depth of cure was assessed from adapted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4049. Results were analyzed with descriptive analysis, analysis of variance, and Tukey's test (α = 5%). PQ showed higher RPabs than CQ. Regarding the DC, CQ + EDMAB (control), CQ + EDMAB + DPI, PQ + DPI, and PQ + EDMAB + DPI produced statistically similar results. Groups formulated with CQ presented higher depth of cure. Only the group formulated with CQ + EDMAB presented satisfactory color stability (ΔE < 3.3). PQ presented higher RPabs than CQ and it was able to produce DC similar to CQ + EDMAB, when used with DPI. However, groups formulated with PQ produced lower depth of cure, greater yellowing, and less color stability than the traditional combination CQ and amine. Although research with novel photoinitiator systems should be encouraged, the traditional camphorquinone and amine pair remains as a reliable combination for the formulation of dental composites.