ABSTRACT
This study sought to compare the shrinkage of 3 resin composites after polymerization, using different curing modes and 2 methods of analysis, with 45 samples in each group. To evaluate free linear shrinkage, specimens were prepared in Teflon molds (8 mm diameter x 2 mm thick) with 1 of 2 methacrylate-based resins or a silorane-based resin. To evaluate wall-to-wall shrinkage, cavities (1.5 mm thick x 3 mm diameter) were prepared in 45 healthy bovine incisors and then restored. In both tests, the same curing lights were used: conventional quartz-tungsten-halogen, a conventional light-emitting diode (LED), and an exponential LED. Gaps were measured microscopically, and the gap percentage was calculated. The results were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Curing modes differed significantly in the free linear shrinkage test group, while resin composites did not. In the wall-to-wall shrinkage group, there were significant differences between the resin composites.
