Comparison of the optical density of high-viscosity composite resins by DenOptix digital system

Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure the optical density of four high-viscosity composite resins (namely Fill Magic, P60, Solitai- re and Surefil) in samples of 1, 2, 3 and 4mm in thickness by using the DenOptix digital system and, eventually, to draw comparisons among them. Five acrylic plates were used for each one of the afo- rementioned degrees of thickness, each plate containing a sample of each resin. Each acrylic plate was radiographed three times by means of a standardized technique, which consisted of placing a phosphor pla- te under each acrylic plate, making up a total of sixty exposures. After each exposition, the optical plates were scanned with the DenOptix digital system, and three consecuti- ve readings were done of each ima- ge, making up a total of 720 readin- gs. The statistical analysis of the results allowed us to conclude that the optical density values increa- sed as the degrees of thickness of the samples also increased. When the samples of 1mm in thickness were compared with one another, the Surefil and P60 samples did not differ statistically from each other and they also presented the highest average of optical density followed by Fill Magic and Solitaire. All samples of 2mm in thickness pre- sented statistical differences when compared with one another; Surefil thus presented the highest value of optical density, followed by P60, Fill Magic and Solitaire, in this or- der. The Surefil samples of 3mm and 4mm in thickness presented the highest average of optical den- sity, followed by P60 and Fill Ma- gic, which did not differ from one another. Among the latter, Solitaire presented the lowest average value of optical density. Key words: optical density, radio- pacity, digital image, composite re- sins, dental materials, Denoptix.