ABSTRACT
AIM: To compare and evaluate the compressive and flexural strengths of two resin-based core build-up materials with an alkasite material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ParaCore, Tetric N ceram Bulk-fill composite, and Cention N were used. A total of 90 specimens were prepared. Customized cylindrical split molds of dimension 6 ± 1 mm (height) × 4 ± 1 mm (diameter) were used to fabricate 15 samples of each core material for testing the compressive strength and rectangular split metal molds of dimensions 25 ± 1 mm (length) × 2 ± 1 mm (width) × 2 ± 1 mm (height) were used to fabricate 15 samples of each core material for testing the flexural strength. Then the samples were tested using a Universal testing machine (UTM). RESULTS: The compressive and flexural strengths of Cention N were significantly less than ParaCore® but higher than Tetric® N-CeramTM Bulk-fill core build-up material. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that Cention N may be used as an alternative to other core build-up materials after further in-vitro and in-vivo studies. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cention N had the added advantage that self-cure polymerization alone was sufficient to achieve good physical properties when compared to the other two resin-based core build-up materials.
