The influence of combining composite resins with different elastic modulus on the stress distribution of Class V restoration: a three-dimensional finite element study

Abstract

This study was to investigate the influence of combining composite resins with different elastic modulus, and occlusal loading condition on the stress distribution of restored notch-shaped non-cari- ous cervical lesion using 3D finite element (FE) analysis. The extracted maxillary second premolar was scanned serially with Micro-CT. The 3D images were processed by 3D-DOCTOR. ANSYS was used to mesh and analyze 3D FE model. A notch-shaped cavity was modeled and filled with hybrid, flowable resin or a combination of both. After restora- tion, a static load of 500N was applied in a point-load condition at buccal cusp and palatal cusp. The stress data were analyzed using analysis of principal stress. Results showed that combining method such that apex was restored by material with high elastic modulus and the occlusal and cervical cavosurface margin by small amount of material with low elastic modulus was the most profitable method in the view of tensile stress that was considered as the dominant factor jeopardizing the restoration durability and promoting the lesion progression. (J