Intrinsic ‘soft-start’ polymerisation shrinkage-kinetics in an acrylate-based resin-composite

Objectives: A resin-composite based on multi-acrylate monomers was to be evaluated for any differences in the setting shrinkage-strain kinetics relative to more conventional formulations based on di-methacrylate monomers. Methods: Four resin-composites were examined for shrinkage-strain over time periods up to 60 min, from initial irradiation, using a ‘bonded disk’ measurement device. One material was evaluated with a standard and also a two-level (low to high) blue light irradiation regime. The test material (Solitaire), and the other two controls were studied under fixed-(normal) level irradiation by blue light. Measurements were made at 23 and 37°C. Results: The low–high light irradiation applied to one di-methacrylate composite led to a highly significant (p<0.001) reduction in shrinkage-strain to a minimal level for the initial 0.2 min. The fixed-level irradiation with the acrylate-composite also led to a formally identical, but intrinsic ‘soft-start’ shrinkage-delay regime; significant at p<0.001. Di-methacryate composites under the same fixed-level light regime did not exhibit shrinkage delay. Both di-methacrylate and multi-acrylate composites exhibited increases in the range 18–29% in final equilibrium shrinkage-strain by increase of specimen temperature. Significance: Reductions in the rate of initial shrinkage of light-cured restoratives may have clinical benefits for restoration bond-integrity nearly as important as reductions in the final equilibrium shrinkage-strain. This may be achieved either by special light irradiation regimes (low to high, or ramped) or in favourable cases by novel monomer-composite formulations and setting chemistry (e.g. Solitaire). The bonded disk shrinkage-strain measurement technique is suitable for the elucidation of such rapid kinetic and temperature-dependent events during photo-polymerisation setting processes.