In-Vitro Investigation of the Microstructure, Elemental Analysis and Microhardness of Three Hybrid Resin Materials Used as Single-tooth restorations

Saadoun, Noha; Farag, Mohamed Sherif; Badawy, Rania El-Saady

doi:10.21608/dsu.2025.385544.1303

In-Vitro Investigation of the Microstructure, Elemental Analysis and Microhardness of Three Hybrid Resin Materials Used as Single-tooth restorations

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez University, P.O.Box: 43221, Suez, Egypt

² Department of Pediatric, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.

³ Department of Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.

10.21608/dsu.2025.385544.1303

Abstract

Introduction: Technology constantly evolves, leading to the extensive usage of
CAD/CAM techniques (subtractive and additive manufacturing) to produce indirect
restorations. Nowadays, hybrid resin materials are commonly used to fabricate singletooth permanent restorations. Aim of the study: The current study evaluated and
compared three commercially available hybrid resin materials used for additive and
subtractive manufacturing of single-tooth permanent restorations. Methodology: 75
bar-shaped specimens (14 x 2 x 2 mm) of 3 different hybrid resin materials were used in
this study and classified into 3 main groups. Lava Ultimate group (n=15), Vita Enamic
group (n=15), and Flexcera Smile Ultra+
group (n=45). Flexcera Smile Ultra+
group was
further subdivided into 3 subgroups (n=15): Flexcera Smile Ultra+
A (0-degree printing
angle), Flexcera Smile Ultra+
B (45-degree printing angle), and Flexcera Smile Ultra+
C (90-degree printing angle). Specimens were investigated regarding microstructure,
elemental analysis, and surface microhardness. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis
tests were used for statistical data analysis. Results: Scanning electron microscopic
images showed typical hybrid resin materials with irregularly shaped fillers and different
sizes embedded in the resin matrix. Flexcera Smile Ultra+
specimens showed the highest
statistically significant carbon median value (42.65 wt.%). Lava Ultimate specimens
showed the highest statistically significant silicon and zirconium median values (27.15
and 16.38 wt.%, respectively). Vita Enamic specimens showed the highest statistically
significant aluminum median value (9.15 wt.%) and surface microhardness mean value
(205.02). Conclusions: The 3D printed material had higher resin content, lower filler
content, and lower surface microhardness than CAD/CAM blocks. Specimens printed
with a 45-degree angle showed the best microhardness results.

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