OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of flowable composite resin(FCR) as stress-absorbing liners in Class I cavity restorations in vitro.

METHODSThirty Class I cavities of 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth were prepared in polycarbonate (PC) plates and divided into three groups, ten each. After application of an adhesive, cavities in each group were restored using one of the following methods: A: restored with Charisma without any lining of FCR; B: lined with Revolution Formula 2 twice before restoration with Charisma; C: lined with Teric Flow twice before restoration with Charisma. All cavities were observed under a photoelastic microscope and photoelastic images were recorded at 3 min and 24 h after curing and the shrinkage stresses on the cavity wall were calculated. The polymerization shrinkage(v%) of the three composite resins was measured using bonded discs method and their elastic moduli were measured according to ISO standard.

RESULTSThe shrinkage stresses at 3 min and 24 h of the three methods were as follows,A: (4.93 ± 0.28), (5.87 ± 0.40) MPa, B: (4.90 ± 0.30), (5.84 ± 0.33) MPa, and C: (4.76 ± 0.28),(5.83 ± 0.37) MPa.No significant difference was found in results among different groups. The polymerization shrinkage(v%) in group A,B, and C were (2.63 ± 0.04)%, (4.56 ± 0.06)%, and (3.98 ± 0.02)%. The elastic modulus in group A, B, and C were (9.59 ± 0.65), (4.25 ± 0.51), and (5.41 ± 0.79) GPa.

CONCLUSIONSUnder present study condition, using a FCR as stress-absorbing liner under composite resin restoration does not significantly decrease the polymerization shrinkage stresses at the cavity wall.