Evaluation of the microhardness of different resin-based dental restorative materials treated with gastric acid: Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the microhardness, relative surface roughness, and elemental changes of resin-based dental restorative materials (RDRMs) after gastric acid treatment. Five different RDRMs (Group 1 [Filtek Z550], Group 2 [Beautifil II], Group 3 [Vertise Flow], Group 4 [Dyract XP], Group 5 [Fuji II LC]) were used. Samples were formed by using plexiglass molds of 10 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness. A total of 50 samples (n = 10) for microhardness tests and a total of 15 samples (n = 3) for scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis were prepared. All samples of each group were treated to gastric acid, simultaneously. A Vickers microhardness tester was used to evaluate the microhardness of the upper surfaces of each sample. SEM-EDX system was used for microstructure and elemental composition detection. The SEM-EDX, microhardness and relative surface roughness analysis were made prior to treatment in gastric acid for 14 days and analysis were repeated on the 14th day. As the difference in the microhardness values of RDRMs was compared, the time-dependent variation in all RDRMs was found to be statistically significant. It was observed that a drastic decrease in microhardness values was in Beautifil II, Filtek Z550, Vertise Flow, Fuji II LC, and Dyract XP, respectively. Average decrease rate of microhardness values compared to the initial state can be listed from high to low as Beautifil II (%35.72), Vertise Flow (% 28.88), Fuji II LC (% 21.09), Dyract XP (%17.60), and Filtek Z550 (% 16.58). As a result, in in-vitro conditions gastric acid decreased microhardness while increasing the relative surface roughness of RDRMs.