Simulation of in vivo degradation of dental composites

A study was conducted to simulate and characterize degradation, in particular subsurface damage, in three commercial materials including Silux, Prisma Fil and Herculite. Specimens were exposed for two weeks, then sectioned and final polished with 1 μm Al2O3 to reveal the radial subsurfaces damage layer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) enabled to characterize the surfaces of specimens exposed for 6h and 1 day, the subsurface degradation in specimens exposed for two weeks, the filtered particles and the surfaces of unexposed control specimens of each brand.