Depth of light-initiated polymerization of glass fiber-reinforced composite in a simulated root canal

PURPOSE: The possibility of polymerizing glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) material into the root canal was preliminarily evaluated by determining the depth of light-initiated polymerization of FRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material used was polymer-preimpregnated E-glass fiber reinforcement, which was further impregnated with light-polymerizable dimethacrylate monomer resin. The same resin without fiber reinforcement was used as a control. Six different lengths (range 4 to 24 mm) of light-protected cylinders filled with the test materials were light polymerized from one end. The degree of monomer conversion was determined from the other end by FT-IR spectrometry. Infrared spectra were recorded at six time points from the beginning of polymerization. The microhardness of the test materials was measured from the light-exposure surface toward the other end of the cylinder. RESULTS: Both groups showed a reduction in the degree of conversion with increased lengths of the cylinder. The FRC group showed a higher degree of conversion in the longest sample group compared to the resin group. Microhardness measurement confirmed the constant reduction of the degree of conversion by the reduced Vickers hardness values with increased cylinder length of the FRC. CONCLUSION: Generally, the glass FRC showed an almost equal degree of conversion after light curing as monomer resin without fibers. However, in the longest cylinders, FRC showed a slightly higher degree of conversion compared to resin only; this might be due to the fibers' ability to conduct light.