Comparative Assessment of the Degree of Water Absorption of Photopolymer Composite Filling Materials Using Different Methods of their Polymerization

Topicality. The growing demand for superior aesthetics in modern dentistry has contributed to the increased popularity of aesthetic restorations in both anterior and posterior teeth. Photopolymer composite materials are optimal for these procedures due to their advantageous aesthetic and mechanical characteristics. Like natural dental tissues, restorative materials must demonstrate sufficient resistance to water absorption to ensure long-term functional stability in the oral cavity. Therefore, assessing water absorption levels in these materials presents a crucial clinical task. Objective: determine the degree of water absorption in photopolymer composite materials subjected to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation polymerization (direct restoration) and those polymerized using a combination of UV irradiation and thermal post-polymerization (indirect restoration). Material and methods. Samples of composite materials — Latelux, Tetric N-Ceram, and Charisma Classic — were examined. They were prepared using two methods: layered UV polymerization (the first group) and UV polymerization with additional polymerization in the Coltene D.I. – 500 unit (the second group). Results. The best results were found among the photopolymer composite restorations in all samples prepared using the indirect method. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the Tetric series samples, particularly Tetric inlay (indirect restoration), exhibited the lowest degree of swelling according to all Vanni indices. Based on the obtained results, Tetric N-Ceram composite material is recommended for further investigation.