Effect of Simulated Tooth Temperature on the Degree of Conversion of Self-adhesive Resin Cements Exposed to Different Curing Conditions

Objectives: This study evaluated the degree of conversion (DC) of two commercial, self-adhesive resin cements (SARCs) using Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) polymerized at simulated prepared tooth surface temperatures and under different curing conditions. Materials and Methods: RelyX U100 (U100, 3M ESPE) and Maxcem Elite (MX, Kerr Corporation) were mixed at 25 C and applied to the surface of a horizontal attenuated total reflectance (ATR) unit, which was near room temperature (RT, control) (25 C) or heated to simulate prepared tooth surface temperatures (28 C and 32 C) and then attached to an infrared spectrometer. The products were polymerized using one of three conditions: direct light exposure through a glass slide (DLE), exposure through a 1.5-mm thick ceramic disc overlay (CO) (A2 shade, IPS e.max, Ivoclar Vivadent), or self-curing (SC). FTIR spectra were recorded for 12 minutes (1 spectrum/s, 16 scans/ spectrum, resolution 4 cm(-1)) immediately after application to the ATR. The DC was calculated using standard techniques of observing changes in aliphatic-to-aromatic peak ratios before and 12 minutes after curing, as well as during each 1-second interval. DC data (n=7) were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc test (p=0.05). Results: Both simulated tooth temperatures significantly increased DC in all groups of MX and in the CO and SC groups of U100 compared with the RT control. For MX, the self-cure groups exposed to tooth temperatures showed DC values similar to those of the CO groups. For U100, the CO groups showed higher DC values than SC groups regardless of temperature. Time-based conversion profiles ranged according to product, temperature, and curing mode. Conclusions: Causing SARCs to polymerize at simulated tooth temperatures increases DC of SARCs compared with room-temperature curing values, mainly in the SC mode.