Dentin adhesion of bulk-fill composites and universal adhesives in class I-cavities with high C-factor.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the dentin adhesion of bulk-fill composites in high C-factor class I-cavities before and after thermocycling to a control group using incremental layering technique. METHODS: A standardized class I-cavity was prepared into 195 human molars, then different universal adhesives were applied either in self-etch or etch & rinse mode, and the cavity was filled according to each materials application protocol. The material combinations used were a conventional layered composite as control, the respective bulk-fill product, two other bulk-fill composites made by different manufacturers, with one of them being tested using two different polymerization times. Furthermore, one thermoviscous bulk-fill composite and one self-adhesive restorative were examined of which the latter can only be applied in self-etch mode. In each group the dentin adhesion to the cavity bottom was measured using microtensile bond strength test initially (24 h water storage) and after thermocycling. All results were statistically analyzed using STATA 17.0. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the control and the experimental groups (p < 0.001). The highest mean bond strength before (14.8 ± 10.7 MPa) and after aging (14.2 ± 11.5 MPa) was measured for the etch & rinse-control group. Among the bulk-fill groups, the etch & rinse technique consistently showed higher bond strengths. Bond strength of groups with shortened polymerization did not exceed 2.1 MPa. The bond strength of the self-adhesive restoration material was low before and after thermocycling (2.7 MPa/ 0.0 MPa). Groups with low bond strength values showed a high number of pre-testing-failures. CONCLUSIONS: Bulk-fill materials used in high C-factor class I-cavities showed lower bond strength during self-etch application. The same applies for a shortened polymerization regime, which cannot be recommended for high C-factor cavities. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Today, a large variety of materials and application techniques can be used when placing an adhesive restoration. Whether new instead of established procedures should be applied in high C-factor cavities has to be critically assessed, as they are a demanding scenario for adhesive restorations.

Determining the Aethalometer multiple scattering enhancement factor C from the filter loading parameter.

Light-absorbing aerosols heat the atmosphere; an accurate quantification of their absorption coefficient is mandatory. However, standard reference instruments (CAPS, MAAP, PAX, PTAAM) are not always available at each measuring site around the world. By integrating all previous published studies concerning the Aethalometers, the AE33 filter loading parameter, provided by the dual-spot algorithm, were used to determine the multiple scattering enhancement factor from the Aethalometer itself (hereinafter CAE) on an yearly and a monthly basis. The method was developed in Milan, where Aethalometer measurements were compared with MAAP data; the comparison showed a good agreement in terms of equivalent black carbon (R2 = 0.93; slope = 1.02 and a negligible intercept = 0.12 µg m-3) leading to a yearly experimental multiple scattering enhancement factor of 2.51 ± 0.04 (hereinafter CMAAP). On a yearly time base the CAE values obtained using the new approach was 2.52 ± 0.01, corresponding to the experimental one (CMAAP). Considering the seasonal behavior, higher experimental CMAAP and computed CAE values were found in summer (2.83 ± 0.12) whereas, the lower ones in winter/early-spring (2.37 ± 0.03), in agreement with the single scattering albedo behavior in the Po Valley. Overall, the agreement between the experimental CMAAP and CAE showed a root mean squared error (RMSE) of just 0.038 on the CMAAP prediction, characterized by a slope close to 1 (1.001 ± 0.178), a negligible intercept (-0.002 ± 0.455) and a high degree of correlation (R2 = 0.955). From an environmental point of view, the application of a dynamic (space/time) determination of CAE increases the accuracy of the aerosol heating rate (compared to applying a fixed C value) up to 16 % solely in Milan, and to 114 % when applied in the Arctic at 80°N.

Upscaling plot-based measurements of RUSLE C-factor of different leaf-angled crops in semi-arid agroecosystems.

Several models have been used to assess temporal cover change trends by using remote and proximal sensing tools. Particularly, from the point of hydrologic and erosional processes and sustainable land and soil management, it is crucial to determine and understand the variation of protective canopy cover change within a development period. Concordantly, leaf angle distribution (LAD) is a crucial parameter when using the vegetation indices (VIs) to define the radiation reflected by the canopy when estimating the cover-management factor (C-factor). This research aims to assess the C-factor of cultivated lands with sunflower and wheat that have different leaf orientations (planophile and erectophile, respectively) with the help of reduced models of NDVI and LAI for estimating crop-stage SLR values with the help of a stepwise linear regression. Those equations with R-squared values of 0.85 and 0.93 were obtained for sunflower and wheat-planted areas, respectively. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), one of the two plant indices used in this study, was measured by remote and proximal sensing tools. At the same time, the Leaf Area Index (LAI) was obtained by a proximal hand-held crop sensor alone. Soil loss ratio (SLR) was upscaled for the establishment period (1P) of sunflower and the maturing period (3P) of wheat to present different growth stages simultaneously with plant-specific equations that can be easily adapted to those aforementioned crops instead of doing field measurements with conventional techniques in semi-arid cropping systems.

Application and limitations of configuration factor (C-factor) in stress analysis of dental restorations.

OBJECTIVE: The configuration factor (C-factor) is an index used to evaluate the relationship between cavity configuration and the development of polymerization shrinkage stress in dental restorations. Although C-factor has been widely researched, its correlation with stress analysis in dental restorations remains controversial. This review aims to discuss the application and limitations of C-factor and define the restricted conditions under which the C-factor "rule of thumb" is applicable. METHODS: A thorough literature review was conducted on the application and limitations of C-factor in stress analysis of dental restorations. This was principally based on MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science databases and a review of the relevant studies and publications in scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals for the specific topic of C-factor and polymerization shrinkage. RESULTS: The C-factor alone cannot provide an accurate prediction of the shrinkage stress of restorations and the mechanical behavior of material-tooth interfaces. C-factor is only applicable under one condition not typically seen in clinical practice: low, near-rigid compliance. SIGNIFICANCE: Conditions for the application of C-factor have been explicitly defined. A more accurate and precise understanding and utilization of the C-factor is of benefit as it contributes to better understanding of polymerization shrinkage behavior of restorations.

Pushout Bond Strength in Coronal Dentin: A Standardization Approach in Comparison to Shear Bond Strength.

To find an alternative that is closer to clinical reality in terms of cavity geometry and configuration factor, this study investigated the pushout test on in vitro adhesive testing to coronal dentin when compared to the established shear test, both in a standardized approach. For a feasible comparison between both tests, the pushout specimen was adjusted in thickness (1.03 ± 0.05 mm) and cavity diameter (1.42 ± 0.03 mm) to receive a bonding area (4.63 ± 0.26 mm2) that matches that of the shear test (4.57 ± 0.13 mm2). Though, the configuration factor between both tests differs largely (pushout 1.5 ± 0.08; shear bond 0.20 ± 0.01). The bond strength of five different adhesives (n = 20) was investigated for both tests. The pushout test registered a high number of invalid measurements (30%) due to concomitant dentin fracture during testing. In contrast to the shear test, the pushout test failed to discriminate between different adhesives (p = 0.367). Both tests differed largely from each other when comparing adhesive groups. When solely looking at the valid specimens, Weibull modulus reached higher values in the pushout approach. Conclusively, the pushout test in this specific setup does not distinguish as precisely as the shear bond test between different adhesives and needs adaption to be routinely applied in adhesive dentistry.

Fracture Resistance and Microleakage around Direct Restorations in High C-Factor Cavities.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical impact of different direct restorations in terms of fracture resistance, and subsequent fracture pattern, in occlusal high C-factor cavities. Furthermore, the adaptation of different direct restorations in the form of gap formation was also evaluated. Seventy-two intact mandibular molars were collected and randomly distributed into three groups (n = 24). Class I occlusal cavities with standardized dimensions were prepared in all specimens. After adhesive treatment, the cavities were restored with direct restorations utilizing three different materials. Group 1: layered conventional packable resin composite (Filtek Ultimate), Group 2: bulk-fill resin composite (SDR), Group 3: bulk-fill short fibre-reinforced composite (SFRC; everX Posterior) covered with packable composite occlusally. Half of the restored specimens underwent static load-to fracture testing (n = 12/group), while the rest underwent sectioning and staining for microleakage evaluation and gap formation analysis. Fracture patterns were evaluated visually among the mechanically tested specimens. The layered composite restoration (Group 1) showed significantly lower fracture resistance compared to the bulk fill groups (Group 2, p = 0.005, Group 3, p = 0.008), while there was no difference in fracture resistance between the other groups. In terms of gap formation values, the layered composite restoration (Group 1) produced significantly higher gap formation compared to the bulk-fill groups (Group 2, p = 0.000, Group 3, p = 0.000). Regarding the fracture pattern, SFRC (Group 3) produced the highest number, while SDR (Group 2) produced the lowest number of repairable fractures. The use of bulk-fill resin composite (fibre or non-fibre-reinforced) for occlusal direct restorations in high C-factor cavities showed promising achievements regarding both fracture resistance and microleakage. Furthermore, the use of short fibre-reinforced bulk-fill composite can also improve the fracture pattern of the restoration-tooth unit. Bulk-fill materials provide a simple and effective solution for restoring and reinforcing high C-factor occlusal cavities.

Nanoparticle facilitated stacked-dsRNA improves suppression of the Lepidoperan pest Chilo suppresallis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, gene knockdown technology using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has been widely used as an environment-friendly pest control strategy, but its instability and limited cellular uptake have limited its overall effect. Studies have shown that the efficiency of single dsRNA can be improved by using various nanomaterials. However, the effect of stacked-dsRNA wrapped by nanomaterial on pests remains unclear. In the present study, both CYP15C1 and C-factor genes were cloned from the midgut of C. suppressalis, and the transcript of C-factor is most highly expressed in heads. Feeding a dsCYP15C1 or dsC-factor - nanomaterial mixture can downregulate the gene expression and significantly increase larval mortality. More importantly, feeding the stacked-dsRNA wrapped by nanomaterial can significantly increase the mortality of C. suppressalis, compared with feeding dsCYP15C1 or dsC-factor - nanomaterial mixture alone. These results showed that CYP15C1 and C-factor could be potential targets for an effective management of C. suppressalis, and we developed a nanoparticle-facilitated stacked-dsRNA strategy in the control of C. suppresallis. Our research provides a theoretical basis for gene function analysis and field pest control, and will promote the application of RNAi technology in the stacked style of pest control.

Flowable fiber-reinforced versus flowable bulk-fill resin composites: Degree of conversion and microtensile bond strength to dentin in high C-factor cavities.

OBJECTIVES: To compare flowable fiber-reinforced and flowable bulk-fill resin composites regarding their degree of conversion (DC) and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin in high C-factor class I cavities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One flowable fiber-reinforced (EverX Flow, GC) and two flowable bulk-fill composites (SDR, Dentsply, and Tetric N-flow Bulk fill, Ivoclar Vivadent) were tested. Regarding DC, 10 cylindrical-shaped specimens were prepared from each material (N = 30), measured using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Regarding µTBS , class I cavities (4.5 × 4.5 × 3) were prepared on flat dentin surfaces of 30 molars, divided into three equal groups, restored with the three restorative materials, thermocycled, sectioned to create 1 mm × 1 mm cross-sectional beams, then tested using a universal testing machine. Failure mode was assessed using a stereomicroscope. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post-hoc tests were used in DC, while One-way ANOVA was used for µTBS . RESULTS: The used materials showed statistically significant differences in DC with the fiber-reinforced composite having the highest value. No statistically significant differences were found between the materials regarding their µTBS . CONCLUSIONS: Flowable fiber-reinforced composite provided the most DC performance compared to the flowable bulk-fill composites. The three used restorative materials provided comparable bonding ability to dentin in high C-factor cavities. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Flowable fiber-reinforced resin composite is preferred as a dentin-replacement material in high-stress bearing areas. However, both flowable fiber-reinforced and bulk-fill resin composites are equally effective in bonding to dentin in high C-factor cavities.

Effects of C-Factor on Bond Strength of Universal Adhesives to Floor and Wall Dentin in Class-I Composite Restorations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of C-factor on the bond strength of universal adhesives to floor and wall dentin in class-I composite restorations using a bulk-fill composite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 108 non-carious humans third molars were randomly divided into four groups as follows: flat wall, flat floor, cavity wall, and cavity floor (n = 36). Then, each group was subdivided into three subgroups according to the type of adhesive used: Single Bond Universal, G-premio Bond (both universal adhesives), or Adper Single Bond 2 (an etch-and-rinse adhesive). After the bonding procedure, X-tra fill resin composite was applied in bulk to build up the flat surfaces or fill the cavities.Then the teeth were sectioned into 1-mm2 sticks and microtensile bond strength (µTBS) was measured using a universal testing machine. µTBS (MPa) was analyzed by one-way, two-way, and three-way ANOVA using SPSS Version 23 (a = 0.05). RESULTS: Interactions between adhesives and bonding surfaces, as well as C-factor and bonding surfaces showed statistically significant differences, but the interaction between the C-factor and type of adhesive was not statistically significant. The comparison of bonded surfaces including the flat wall and the flat floor in Adper Single Bond 2 was statistically significant (p < 0.05), except for the cavity wall and cavity floor. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of adhesives, the C-factor reduced the µTBS of the composite resin to dentin. Adper Single Bond 2 mediated higher µTBS than did the universal adhesives G-premio Bond and Single Bond Universal.

Effects of C-factor on dentin bonding using various adhesive systems.

Aims and Background: This study evaluated the effect of C-factor on the bond strength of a resin composite to floor and wall dentin using various adhesive systems. Materials and Methods: Four dentin substrates (flat wall, flat floor, cavity wall, or cavity floor) were prepared on human molars. Each specimen was restored with one of three adhesives; Clearfil SE Bond, Single Bond, or Clearfil tri-S Bond followed by buildup or filling using Z100 resin composite. The specimen was cut perpendicular to the bonded surface parallel to the floor or wall to obtain beams after light curing at 24,000 mJ/cm2. The microtensile bond strength to wall specimens or the cavity floor was determined. Data were analyzed. Results: All adhesive systems exhibited the highest bond strength to flat wall group (p < 0.05). The bond strength to the cavity group was significantly lower than that to the respective flat group regardless of the bonding system (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bond strength with Clearfil SE Bond and Clearfil tri-S Bond between the cavity wall and cavity floor (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggested that the strength of bonding to the cavity floor and cavity wall was affected by C-factor regardless of the adhesive system. Bonding to flat wall was higher than flat floor regardless of the adhesive system. Self-etching system provided uniform bond to the cavity wall and cavity floor dentin. However, total etching system reduced bond to the cavity floor than to the cavity wall.

g versus c: comparing individual and collective intelligence across two meta-analyses.

Collective intelligence (CI) is said to manifest in a group's domain general mental ability. It can be measured across a battery of group IQ tests and statistically reduced to a latent factor called the "c-factor." Advocates have found the c-factor predicts group performance better than individual IQ. We test this claim by meta-analyzing correlations between the c-factor and nine group performance criterion tasks generated by eight independent samples (N = 857 groups). Results indicated a moderate correlation, r, of .26 (95% CI .10, .40). All but four studies comprising five independent samples (N = 366 groups) failed to control for the intelligence of individual members using individual IQ scores or their statistically reduced equivalent (i.e., the g-factor). A meta-analysis of this subset of studies found the average IQ of the groups' members had little to no correlation with group performance (r = .06, 95% CI -.08, .20). Around 80% of studies did not have enough statistical power to reliably detect correlations between the primary predictor variables and the criterion tasks. Though some of our findings are consistent with claims that a general factor of group performance may exist and relate positively to group performance, limitations suggest alternative explanations cannot be dismissed. We caution against prematurely embracing notions of the c-factor unless it can be independently and robustly replicated and demonstrated to be incrementally valid beyond the g-factor in group performance contexts.

Tools for USLE-CP-factor calculation and actual erosion risk on field block level for Switzerland.

The calculation of the cover management factor (C-factor) and support practices factor (P-factor) is an important element in the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). In Switzerland, a potential soil erosion risk map of arable land and a field block map that represents the basis of the agriculturally used areas in the country are available. A CP-factor tool was developed adapted to Swiss agronomic and environmental conditions, which allows to calculate CP-factors easily for various crop rotations and management practices. The calculated CP-factor values can be linked to any field block in the potential soil erosion risk map to determine the actual soil erosion risk for the field block. A plausibility check with other C-factor tools showed a sound match. This user-friendly calculation makes the CP-Tool and the actual erosion risk more accessible for authorities and GIS users. With Python and QGIS as open source resources, it is also possible to easily improve the tools. Linking the two tools provides substantial added value for education and training, advising farmers and policy, as well as scientific research, and can serve as a reference for other countries.•USLE-CP-factor and actual erosion risk calculation on small scale field block level.•Developed and programmed based on open source resources for further improvements.•Both tools increase the knowledge of management practices for GIS- and non GIS users.

Comparative Evaluation of Microleakage in Various Placement Techniques of Composite Restoration: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of various placement techniques of composite restoration on microleakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty extracted premolars were selected and a rectangular-shaped cavity was prepared on the buccal surface of cervical third of each tooth. Thereafter, teeth were randomly divided into four groups equally and were restored with the composite restorative material with different placement techniques, i.e., bulk placement technique, horizontal incremental technique, split incremental technique, and newly introduced Mat incremental technique. Samples were thermocycled and immersed in methylene blue dye for 24 hours. The samples were then sectioned and evaluated under a stereomicroscope for microleakage. RESULTS: Microleakage was present least in the Mat incremental group and maximum in the bulk placement group while intercomparison revealed statistically significant difference between all the groups except for split incremental and Mat incremental groups. CONCLUSION: The recently introduced Mat incremental placement technique showed least microleakage when compared to conventional techniques. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Somani R, Som NK, Jaidka S, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Microleakage in Various Placement Techniques of Composite Restoration: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(3):264-268.

Mechanical manifestation of the C-factor in relation to photopolymerization of dental resin composites.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the validity of a recent theory which proposes that (1) the magnitude of the shrinkage stress of resin composites depends on the thickness of the boundary layer under triaxial constraints relative to the total thickness of the specimen and (2) the boundary-layer thickness is proportional to the diameter of the specimen. METHODS: Cylindrical specimens of three commercially available resin composites, three diameters (4, 5 and 6.3mm) and four thicknesses (2, 3, 5 and 6.5mm) were tested. Curing was applied using a LED light for 40s. Microscopic images (32×) of the specimens before and after curing were analyzed to determine the lateral shrinkage profile along the vertical axis. Boundary-layer thickness was determined from the point where lateral shrinkage displacement first reached the maximum value found at mid-thickness. RESULTS: Lateral shrinkage displacement at mid-thickness was close to the theoretical value based on published shrinkage-strain data, with the ratio between experimental and theoretical values being 1.04±0.06. The boundary-layer thickness was found to be proportional to specimen diameter only, independent of material, C-factor, and specimen thickness. The proportionality constant was 0.64±0.07, which was approximately 3 times that of the effective value indicated by shrinkage strain/stress calculations. SIGNIFICANCE: This study validates the assumption made in the shrinkage-stress theory recently proposed and provides a more precise and mechanistic interpretation for the C-factor, i.e. the C-factor, as a measure of a specimen's constraint, is the ratio between the boundary-layer thickness and the total thickness of the specimen.

Event marker compliance in actigraphy.

Actigraphy is a versatile tool for evaluating sleep-wake cycles over time in the home-environment. Patients using the Phillips Actiwatch place an event marker when going to sleep and upon awakening. We investigate compliance in pressing the Actiwatch event marker button for patients referred for insomnia, hypersomnia and disorders of circadian rhythm. We retrospectively analysed event markers from 150 patients undergoing actigraphy for 2,117 nights combined. Compliance was evaluated from inspection of actigraphy records, and coded as full or partial. From patient records, a construct called the C-factor, designed to describe poor social resources and chronic unemployment, was used together with age and sex to predict compliance. We found a mean compliance between 54.0% and 76.3% for a median monitoring duration of 14 days. There was an overall insignificant effect of age (p = .081), but when analysed only for females there was a significant effect of 0.56% pr. year (p = .0038). Compliance was higher for women, Cohen's d = 0.65 (p = .01). The C-factor predicts 18.3% (confidence interval 9%-27.5%) lower compliance. Morning and evening compliance are correlated at r = .65. In conclusion, actigraphy event marker compliance is generally moderate or high, with older women exhibiting the highest compliance. C-factor predicts lower compliance, and this pattern may further translate to other circumstances. If compliance is important, clinicians may want to consider the effects of age, sex and C-factor.

Change of permanent grasslands extent (1996-2015) and national grassland dataset of Switzerland.

So far, neither a grassland map, temporal analysis of the conversion of permanent grassland (PG) to other land uses nor the differentiation of permanent and temporal grassland exists for Switzerland. For the first time in Switzerland, we present a Swiss national grassland map for the year 2015 capturing the extent of both, permanent and temporal grasslands (here called grasslands) by intersecting the information of three datasets. We blended the high temporal resolution Climate Change Initiate (CCI) Land Cover of 2015 (processed by the European Space Agency (ESA)), with the high spatial resolution Swiss topographical landscape model "SwissTLM3D" and the landscape model "vector25" both provided by Swisstopo. The final data presents the spatial patterns and the national extent of Swiss grasslands. Furthermore, the recently published (April 2017) CCI Land Cover dataset allow extracting the extent of grasslands for 24 years (1992-2015) with a coarse spatial resolution of 300 m. We used the time series data of the grassland extent to produce annual PG maps from 1996 to 2015. That data enables the identification of the development of grassland extent over two decades. The Swiss national grassland map is used for investigating the spatio-temporal patterns of the soil erosion risk of Swiss grasslands (see Mapping spatio-temporal dynamics of the cover and management factor (C-factor) for grasslands in Switzerland, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2018.04.008 (Schmidt el al., 2018)).

The Significance of Land Cover Delineation on Soil Erosion Assessment.

The study aims to evaluate the significance of land cover delineation on soil erosion assessment. To that end, RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) was implemented at the Upper Acheloos River catchment, Western Central Greece, annually and multi-annually for the period 1965-92. The model estimates soil erosion as the linear product of six factors (R, K, LS, C, and P) considering the catchment's climatic, pedological, topographic, land cover, and anthropogenic characteristics, respectively. The C factor was estimated using six alternative land use delineations of different resolution, namely the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) project (2000, 2012 versions) (1:100,000), a land use map conducted by the Greek National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF) (1:20,000), a land use map conducted by the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (PCAGGCA) (1:5,000), and the Landsat 8 16-day Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset (30 m/pixel) (two approximations) based on remote sensing data (satellite image acquired on 07/09/2016) (1:40,000). Since all other factors remain unchanged per each RUSLE application, the differences among the yielded results are attributed to the C factor (thus the land cover pattern) variations. Validation was made considering the convergence between simulated (modeled) and observed sediment yield. The latter was estimated based on field measurements conducted by the Greek PPC (Public Power Corporation). The model performed best at both time scales using the Landsat 8 (Eq. 13) dataset, characterized by a detailed resolution and a satisfactory categorization, allowing the identification of the most susceptible to erosion areas.

The two sides of the C-factor.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects on shrinkage strain/stress development of the lateral constraints at the bonded surfaces of resin composite specimens used in laboratory measurement. METHODS: Using three-dimensional (3D) Hooke's law, a recently developed shrinkage stress theory is extended to 3D to include the additional out-of-plane strain/stress induced by the lateral constraints at the bonded surfaces through the Poisson's ratio effect. The model contains a parameter that defines the relative thickness of the boundary layers, adjacent to the bonded surfaces, that are under such multiaxial stresses. The resulting differential equation is solved for the shrinkage stress under different boundary conditions. The accuracy of the model is assessed by comparing the numerical solutions with a wide range of experimental data, which include those from both shrinkage strain and shrinkage stress measurements. RESULTS: There is good agreement between theory and experiments. The model correctly predicts the different instrument-dependent effects that a specimen's configuration factor (C-factor) has on shrinkage stress. That is, for noncompliant stress-measuring instruments, shrinkage stress increases with the C-factor of the cylindrical specimen; while the opposite is true for compliant instruments. The model also provides a correction factor, which is a function of the C-factor, Poisson's ratio and boundary layer thickness of the specimen, for shrinkage strain measured using the bonded-disc method. For the resin composite examined, the boundary layers have a combined thickness that is ∼11.5% of the specimen's diameter. SIGNIFICANCE: The theory provides a physical and mechanical basis for the C-factor using principles of engineering mechanics. The correction factor it provides allows the linear shrinkage strain of a resin composite to be obtained more accurately from the bonded-disc method.

Internal adaptation of resin composites at two configurations: Influence of polymerization shrinkage and stress.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared internal adaptation of composites under different C-factors and examined the relationship between internal adaptation and polymerization shrinkage parameters. METHODS: Cylindrical cavities 3mm in diameter were prepared in 100 human third molars in two depths: 4mm high C-factor (H-CF) or 1mm low C-factor (L-CF). After adhesive application (Clearfil SE One, Kuraray Noritake), the composite was placed in two increments in three subgroups: Filtek Supreme (FS, 3M ESPE); Charisma Diamond (CD, Heraeus Kulzer); Amelogen Plus (AP, Ultradent); and as a single increment in two subgroups: Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill (TB, Ivoclar Vivadent) and Venus Bulk Fill (VB, Heraeus Kulzer). After thermo-mechanical load-cycles, imperfect margin percentage (%IM) was calculated using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) imaging. The relationships between %IM and linear shrinkage (LS) and shrinkage stress, measured under either zero-compliance (PS0) or compliance-allowed (PS) conditions were evaluated. RESULTS: The %IM was significantly different between H-CF and L-CF groups. The %IM in H-CF turned out to be as groups CD, FS≤TB

Correlation between polymerization shrinkage stress and C-factor depends upon cavity compliance.

OBJECTIVES: The literature reports inconsistent results regarding using configuration factor (C-factor) as an indicator to reflect the generation of polymerization shrinkage stress (PS) from dental restorative composites due to the constraint of cavity configuration. The current study aimed at unraveling the complex effects of C-factor on PS based on analytical and experimental approaches together, such that the reported inconsistency can be explained and a significance of C-factor in clinic can be comprehensively provided. METHODS: Analytical models based on linear elasticity were established to predict PS measured in instruments (testing systems) with different compliances, and complex effects of C-factor on PS were derived. The analyses were validated by experiments using a cantilever beam-based instrument and systematic variation of instrumental compliance. RESULTS: For a general trend, PS decreased with increasing C-factor when measured by instruments with high compliance. However, this trend gradually diminished and eventually reversed (PS became increased with increasing C-factor) by decreasing the system compliance. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study indicates that the correlation between PS and C-factor are highly dependent on the compliance of testing instrument for PS measurement. This suggests that the current concept on the role of C-factor in the stress development and transmission to tooth structures, higher C-factor produces higher PS due to reduced flow capacity of more confined materials, can be misleading. Thus, the compliance of the prepared tooth (cavity) structure should also be considered in the effect of C-factor on PS.