Effect of Dispensing Systems on Mechanical Properties of Resin-Based Cements

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine how the mechanical properties of each cement differs with changes in the dispensing system.
Methods: Resin-based cement specimens: PANAVIA SA Cement Plus Handmix, PANAVIA SA Cement Plus Automix (Kuraray); RelyX Unicem Handmix, RelyX Unicem 2 Automix (3M); G-CEM Capsule Automix, G-CEM LinkAce Automix (GC America); Variolink II Handmix, Variolink Esthetic Automix (Ivoclar), were prepared for each mechanical test and examined after thermocycling for 10,000 cycles to the following: Compressive Strength (CS) (ISO 9917-1), Diametral Tensile Strength (DTS), Fracture toughness (FT) (ISO standard 6872; Single edge V-notched beam method). Specimens were mounted and loaded at a crosshead rate of 1 mm/min (0.5 mm/min for FT) with a universal testing machine until failure occurred. One-Way ANOVA was used to analyze data for statistical significance.
Results: There was a statistical significance between the mechanical properties of the cements when comparing between the dispensing method. See table for results.
Conclusions: Changing the dispensing method may alter the mechanical properties of resin-based cements. Easier is not always better. Clinical significance of these results are yet to be determined.