Thermal cycling effect of dicalcium phosphate-reinforced composites on auto-mineralized dental resin

• Identification of treated DCPA with the potential to generate mineralization
• Nanocrystal-treated DCPA helps prevent strength decline.
• Treated filler capped with silane enhances mineralization.
• Characteristics of composite resins were examined via thermal cycling.
• Mineralizing abilities of resins were proportional to increasing thermal cycles.

The mineralizing capabilities of surface-modified dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA), reinforced and treated with nanocrystals and capped with silane, in composite resins were analyzed via thermal cycling. We compared two light-curable composites that were mixed at filler-to-resin mass ratios of 30/70 and 50/50. The strengths, elastic moduli, and topographical structures of the samples were determined after thermal cycling between 5 and 55 °C in deionized water for 600 and 2400 cycles. Silane-capped particles decreased the strength but enhanced the mineralizing capability of the composites. Nanocrystal-treated filler surfaces significantly increased the strength and moduli of the composites after 600 thermal cycles. However, these values declined after 2400 thermal cycles. The nanocrystal-treated filler surfaces prevented the reduction in strength before and after 2400 thermal cycles. Prior to silane capping, the nanocrystal-treated DCPA filler surfaces exhibited good mineralization capability without compromising strength. The potential for barrier generation through mineralization yielded positive effects and prevented micro-leakages.

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