Comparative Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of an Alkasite-Based Material and a Conventional Resin Composite

Alkasites are resin-based restorative materials that differ from conventional resin composites in the composition and reactivity of their filler system, which enables ion release. Whether optional light activation changes the mechanical properties of the alkasite Cention Forte, compared with self-curing and with a conventional composite, remains insufficiently documented. This in vitro study compared Cention Forte (urethane dimethacrylate-based matrix; reactive calcium fluorosilicate and barium glass fillers) in self-cured (G1) and light-cured (G2) modes with the nanohybrid composite Tetric EvoCeram (G0; dimethacrylate matrix; barium glass, ytterbium trifluoride, mixed oxide and prepolymerized fillers). Top- and bottom-surface Vickers microhardness (VMHt, VMHb), bottom-to-top ratio (BTR), diametral tensile strength (DTS) and compressive strength (CS) were measured (n = 7). G1 showed the highest VMHt (70.3 HV), followed by G0 (63.0 HV) and G2 (57.8 HV) (p< 0.001). Both Cention Forte groups had BTR values of approximately 1.00 (G0: 0.97) as an indirect, surface-based index. G2 exhibited the highest DTS (39.7 MPa) and G0 the highest CS (311.2 MPa). Curing mode accounted for most between-group variance in microhardness, whereas material composition dominated compressive strength.