Effect of Different Aging Methods on Surface Microhardness and Roughness of Anterior Resin Composites: An In Vitro Study

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Dağdelen Ahısha C., Üçtaşlı M. B.

MATERIALS, vol.18, no.20, pp.1-13, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 20
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/ma18204684
  • Journal Name: MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Aerospace Database, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Academic Search Premier, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, CAB Abstracts, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-13
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The surface properties of composite resin restorative materials are critical for the esthetics

and longevity of restorations. This in vitro study evaluated the microhardness change and

surface roughness change in four resin composites recommended for anterior restorations

after two aging simulations: thermal cycling (10,000 cycles) and one year of water storage.

Ten specimens (n = 10) were prepared for each material. After baseline measurements, samples

were subjected to one of the aging procedures, and surface properties were reassessed.

For microhardness change (ΔH), significant differences were observed among materials

under both thermal cycling (p = 0.001) and water storage (p = 0.001). Omnichroma–thermal

cycling showed a greater decrease than G-ænial Anterior (p = 0.028) and Clearfil Majesty

ES-2 (p = 0.001), while Optishade–thermal cycling decreased more than Clearfil Majesty

ES-2 (p = 0.015). In water storage, Omnichroma exhibited a greater decrease than Optishade

(p = 0.042) and Clearfil Majesty ES-2 (p = 0.001), and G-ænial Anterior decreased more

than Clearfil Majesty ES-2 (p = 0.026). Optishade and Clearfil Majesty ES-2 showed significantly

greater decreases after thermal cycling than water storage, while Omnichroma

and G-ænial Anterior showed no difference. For the change in surface roughness (ΔR),

significant differences were also found (p = 0.001). In thermal cycling, Optishade exhibited

the lowest increase, while G-ænial Anterior showed the highest. In water storage, G-ænial

Anterior again had the highest increase, significantly greater than all others (p = 0.001).

For all materials, ΔR values were significantly higher after thermal cycling compared with

those in water storage (p = 0.001). These results demonstrate that both composite type and

aging method influence long-term surface properties. Overall, thermal cycling exerted

more detrimental effects than water storage.