Laboratory strength of glass ionomer cement, compomers, and resin composites

PURPOSE: The study evaluates the compressive, flexural, and diametral tensile strengths of 8 core build-up materials from different material classes (highly viscous glass ionomer cement, autocured resin composite, and compomers). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All materials were manipulated according to the manufacturers' recommendations for use as core materials. At a temperature of 23.0 +/- 1.0 degrees C the properties of compressive, diametral tensile and flexural strength were determined using a universal testing machine at 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours after material preparation. Using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple mean value comparisons were performed to determine significant differences (p< or =.05) between the core restoration materials. RESULTS: The values for compressive strength varied from 40.3 +/- 5.2 MPa (compomer) to 237.4 +/- 37.3 MPa (autocured resin composite) for the 3 measurement times. At 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours after first mixing, the ANOVA showed significant differences (p < or =.05) between the resin composite Core Paste and all of the other materials. Diametral tensile strengths ranged from 5.5 +/- 1.1 MPa for glass ionomer cement to 39.1 +/- 2.9 MPa for composite core material. Three-point flexural strength showed values ranging from 12.1 +/- 2.5 MPa for glass ionomer cement to 92.1 +/- 9.7 MPa for compomer between the 3 measurement times. CONCLUSIONS: Setting time influences the mechanical properties of the materials tested in this study. Autopolymerizing resin composite Core Paste demonstrated greater compressive and flexural strengths at the 3 measurement times than the other materials tested. Reinforced composites, in comparison to the autocured resin composites, yielded no improvement in tensile strength. Flexural and tensile strengths of the glass ionomer cement were lower than those of autocured resin composites and compomers.