Influence of temperature on volumetric shrinkage and contraction stress of dental composites

•Influence of temperature on volumetric shrinkage and contraction stress was tested.•Four commercially available dental composites were tested.•Tests were carried out at 23, 30, 37, and 44 °C.•Volumetric shrinkage increases with higher temperature.•Contraction stress increases between 23 and 30 °C.

ObjectivesTo test the influence of temperature on contraction stress and volumetric shrinkage of Clearfil AP-X, Venus Diamond, Premise and Filtek Z250.MethodsVolumetric shrinkage measurements were carried out using mercury dilatometry, while a constraint tensilometer set-up was used for the measurement of contraction stress. Measurements were carried out with a composite temperature of 23, 30, 37, and 44 °C.ResultsVolumetric shrinkage increases with higher temperature. Premise and Venus Diamond show lower volumetric shrinkage than Clearfil AP-X and Filtek Z250. Clearfil AP-X shows the highest contraction stress which slightly increases with higher temperatures. The other composites only show an increase in contraction stress between 23 and 30 °C.SignificanceHeating of dental composites results in a higher volumetric shrinkage. However, the contraction stress does not change significantly due to increased temperature above 30 °C.